2015 TSCL Senior Survey
Your answers to this survey will help TSCL educate Members of Congress, the media and the public about the views, experiences, and challenges facing seniors as they relate to Medicare and Social Security.
We will email you the results of the survey.
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Which of the following most closely represents the amount that the 1.5% Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) increased your monthly benefit for 2015?
Less than $19.00
$19.10 - $29.00
$29.10 - $39.00
More than $39.00
Which of the following most closely represents the amount your total monthly expenses increased during 2014?
$0 - $39.00
$39.01 - $79.00
$79.01 - $119.00
More than $119.00
Of the percentages shown below, which most closely represents the total portion of your Social Security payments that you spend on all healthcare costs? (Please include the cost of premiums, deductibles, co-pays and uncovered costs.)
10% or less
11% - 33%
34% - 50%
51% - 99%
100% or more
During 2014 did you have unexpected or higher healthcare costs that you thought would be covered by Medicare, a health or drug plan, but were not?
Please check all that apply.
Was the co-pay or co-insurance higher than expected for any of the following?
Prescription drugs
Doctor visits
Outpatient services
Medical imaging
Inpatient Hospital
Outpatient or "observation" Hospital
Does the provider no longer participate in your health plan network?
Prescription drugs
Doctor visits
Outpatient services
Medical imaging
Inpatient Hospital
Outpatient or "observation" Hospital
Was there a billing error or unexplained charges?
Prescription drugs
Doctor visits
Outpatient services
Medical imaging
Inpatient Hospital
Outpatient or "observation" Hospital
Are you unsure of the reason for the higher cost?
Prescription drugs
Doctor visits
Outpatient services
Medical imaging
Inpatient Hospital
Outpatient or "observation" Hospital
Do you pay income taxes on a portion of your Social Security benefits?
Yes
No
Besides Social Security, do you have any other retiement income from jobs, pensions, annuities, savings accounts, like an IRA or 401(k)?
Yes
No
Do you have a mortgage payment or make payments on a home equity line of credit??
Yes
No
Which of the following most closely describes your credit card or debt situation? check ALL that apply
I don’t have any debt that I carry for more than 30 days other than car or home payments.
I have trouble making payments, and have an outstanding credit card balance of $1,000 or more.
I have trouble making payments and have an outstanding credit card balance of less than $1,000.
I don’t have trouble making payments and have an outstanding credit card balance of $1,000 or more.
I have outstanding medical debt that I carry for more than 30 days.
Which of the following most closely describes how you feel about your Social Security benefits? check one
My benefits help me afford a comfortable retirement.
My benefits keep me out of poverty.
My benefits are not keeping up with my household budget needs.
My benefits are too low to sustain even basic needs. I don’t have enough to live on.
10. The Social Security Disability Insurance Trust Fund is forecast to become insolvent next year. The Social Security Trust Fund that pays retirement and survivors benefits is forecast to remain solvent until 2033. Which of the following statements best describes the approach you would support to making changes? Check only one after reading through the entire list:
Enact legislation that increases tax revenues and reduces benefits for both the disability and the retirement trust funds.
Enact legislation that increases tax revenues and reduces benefits for the disability trust fund only.
Enact legislation that does not touch benefits (other than to reduce fraud and abuse) but increases tax revenues received by both disability and retirement programs.
Enact legislation that does not touch benefits (other than to reduce fraud and abuse) but increases tax revenues of only the disability program.
The following are options to change Social Security to provide greater solvency while providing higher COLA's and lower taxes on Social Security benefits.
Please check all that indicate your opinion.
Government would invest up to 25% of excess trust fund reserves in stocks instead of IOUs gradually phasing in, assuming 6.4 rate of return.(Estimated percentage of shortfall eliminated is 13%)
Support
Opposed
No opinion
Very gradually increase the payroll tax rate by 1% each for workers and employers.(Estimated percentage of shortfall eliminated is 49%)
Support
Opposed
No opinion
Raise the taxable maximum cap to apply full a 12.4% to all earnings above $117,000. Provide credit for benefits.(Estimated percentage of shortfall eliminated is 66%)
Support
Opposed
No opinion
Change the benefit formula to make it modestly more generous for beneficiaries. Change would increase benefits by about $70 per month.(Estimated percentage of shortfall eliminated is -15%)
Support
Opposed
No opinion
Lift the threshold for taxation of benefits to $50,000 for single filers and $100,000 for joint filers.(Estimated percentage of shortfall eliminated is -4%)
Support
Opposed
No opinion
Use the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E) to calculate COLA.(Estimated percentage of shortfall eliminated is -13%)
Support
Opposed
No opinion
Gradually raise the full retirement age to 68.(Estimated percentage of shortfall eliminated is 15%)
Support
Opposed
No opinion
Prohibit payment of Social Security benefits that are calculated on earnings from unauthorized work of illegal immigrants. (No government estimate available)
Support
Opposed
No opinion
Are you retired military:
Yes
No
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