Senior Survey

What Do You Think?

As the debate continues over prescription drugs, tax cuts, and the budget surplus, we need to find out what legislative options are acceptable to you.

Please print and fill out this survey and mail to:
Annual Senior Survey
TREA Senior Citizens League
PO Box 97173
Washington, DC 20090-7173

PART I: MEDICARE

1. Are you currently enrolled in a health plan that offers prescription drug coverage? __Yes __No

2. Which type of prescription drug insurance do you feel you could best afford? (Check one.)

__ a. The coverage is available through Medicare to all Medicare beneficiaries who voluntarily enroll. The additional monthly premium is $30. There is no deductible-coverage applies at once. The plan covers half of all drug costs up to $2,500 a year. Once your out-of-pocket expenses for drugs exceed $4,000 then the plan would pay for all the rest of your costs. If your income is under $11,300 (individual) or $15,200 (couple) all premiums and drug costs would be paid for by Medicare.

__ b. The coverage is available through private Medicare-approved health insurance plans to all Medicare beneficiaries who choose to shop for the insurance from the companies that offer it. The monthly premium is $35 to $40. There is a $250 deductible. The plans cover half of all drug costs up to $2,500 after the deductible has been reached. Once your out-of-pocket expenses for drugs exceed $6,000 the plan would pay for all the rest of your costs. Plans may offer additional benefits if they choose. If your income is under $11,300 (individual) or $15,200 (couple) all premiums and drug costs would be paid for by Medicare.

__ c. Neither. Can`t afford either plan.

3. Which method of negotiating discounts do you feel would lead to more affordable prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries? (Check one.)

__ a. The Government negotiates discounts with drug manufacturers.

__ b. Insurance companies negotiate discounts with drug manufacturers.

__ c. About the same.

4. Should the government enact campaign finance reforms that would place greater limits on the amount of money corporations and trade associations, such as the drug manufacturers, may contribute? __Yes __No

PART II: SOCIAL SECURITY

5. By the year 2015 Social Security will start to pay out more in benefits than it takes in. The following lists are proposals under consideration for `fixing` Social Security to enable the payment of benefits. Resolving Social Security`s financing problems would undoubtedly require more than one of the proposals for change. Please indicate whether you favor the idea, would consider the proposal given more details, or if you are opposed to the idea.

Proposals to `Save Social Security`:

Gradually increase the retirement age to 70 for full benefits.

__ In favor
__ Would consider proposal with details
__ Opposed

Reduce benefits for those whose total retirement income exceeds $45,000 per year.

__ In favor
__ Would consider proposal with details
__ Opposed

Raise payroll taxes on workers and employers by 1/2 percentage point each.

__ In favor
__ Would consider proposal with details
__ Opposed

Increase wages subject to Social Security by eliminating the maximum wage cap.

__ In favor
__ Would consider proposal with details
__ Opposed

The Government would invest 40% of the Social Security Trust Fund into private investments such as stocks.

__ In favor
__ Would consider proposal with details
__ Opposed

Create personal retirement accounts by diverting 1 percentage point of payroll tax to private account.

__ In favor
__ Would consider proposal with details
__ Opposed

PART III: BUDGET SURPLUS

6. The federal government surplus, not including Social Security, was $87 billion in 2000. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that non-Social Security budget surpluses could add up to as much as $2 trillion over the next 10 years. Please rate the importance of the following uses of the budget surplus with 1 as the highest priority and 5 as the lowest priority.

__ a. Cut taxes on Social Security benefits. Estimated cost: $117 billion over 10 years. Currently Social Security recipients with incomes over $25,000 (individual) or $32,000 (couple) pay tax on as much as 85% of their Social Security benefits.

__ b. Pay down the national debt making it easier to re-borrow, if necessary, to redeem the IOUs in the Social Security Trust Fund (see `The $900 Billion Question`). National debt estimated to be $3.4 trillion.

__ c. Use it to pay for a Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit. Estimated Cost:. $100 Billion over 10 years.

__ d. Use it to pay for increased Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLAs) based on the Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers which more accurately reflects senior costs. (Cost not estimated.)

__ e. Use it to pay for `The Notch Fairness Act` which would provide those born from 1917 through 1926 and their surviving beneficiaries the choice of improved monthly benefits or a Lump-Sum equaling $5,000 payable over a four year period. Estimated cost: $45 billion over 4 years.

PART IV: INFORMATION ABOUT YOURSELF

7. Do you have access to the internet and e-mail?__Yes __No

Would you like to sign up for free TSCL e-mail newsletters and Legislative Alerts?__Yes __No

If yes, please list e-mail address:

Please visit our website at www.tscl.org.

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