Seniors’ views of the new prescription drug benefit are mixed. Between February 2004 and December 2004, around four to five in ten seniors have said they have an unfavorable impression of the new law, compared with around two to three in ten seniors who said they have a favorable impression.

In April 2005, since the law has passed, the question changed from asking impressions of the “new Medicare law” to asking about the “new Medicare prescription drug benefit”. More seniors still say they have an unfavorable impression (34%) than a favorable impression (21%) of the new prescription drug benefit, but nearly half either have a neutral impression (25%) or don’t know about the benefit (20% - data not shown).

Seniors are more likely than their younger counterparts to have an unfavorable impression: in April 2005, about one-third (34%) of adults age 65 and over say they have a unfavorable impression of the new benefit, compared with about one-quarter (24%) of adults under 65.