Now, thinking specifically about health care… What health care issue, if any, will be most important to you in deciding how to vote for US Congress? (PROBE: Is there another health care issue that will be almost as important to you?)

21% Prescription Drug Costs18 Health Care Costs16 Expanding Insurance Coverage13 Medicare/Medicaid/Care for Elderly2 Patient’s Bill of Rights14 No Issue18 Don’t know

Now I’m going to read you a list of health care issues you might or might not consider important in deciding how to vote for a candidate for US Congress. As I read each one, please tell me if you think it will be very important in deciding your vote, somewhat important, not too important, or not at all important in deciding your vote. Which ONE of these do you think will be the MOST important in deciding your vote?

27% Helping control the cost of health care24 Helping the uninsured get health insurance coverage19 Helping people age 65 and over pay for prescription medicines11 Helping make Medicare more financially secure7 Protecting the privacy of medical records5 Protecting consumer rights in HMOs and managed care plans7 None of these

Survey by National Public Radio, Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Methodology: Fieldwork conducted by ICR–International Communications Research, October 23-October 27, 2002 and based on telephone interviews with a national adult sample of 1,007.

Now, I’d like to ask you a question about a story that has been in the news recently. If you’re not sure of the answer, that’s okay. Just tell me and I’ll go to the next question. You may have heard news about recent debates in Congress on a bill that would add a prescription drug benefit to Medicare. To the best of your knowledge, has this bill been passed by Congress and signed into law by President Bush, or not?

Total

Ages 18-64

Ages 65+

Yes, has been passed

23%

21%

32%

No, has not been passed

24

24

27

Don’t know

53

55

41

As you may know, President (George W.) Bush and the U.S. (United States) Congress recently approved a new Medicare law that includes some coverage of prescription drug costs for seniors. How well would you say you understand this new law? Would you say you understand it very well, somewhat well, not too well, or not well at all?

Total

Ages 18-64

Ages 65+

Very well

7%

5%

15%

Somewhat well

26

26

24

Not too well

34

34

39

Not well at all

30

32

21

Don’t know/Refused

3

3

1

Given what you know about it, in general, do you have a favorable or unfavorable impression of this new Medicare law?

Total

Ages 18-64

Ages 65+

Favorable

25%

27%

17%

Unfavorable

38

34

55

Neither/neutral (vol.)

13

14

9

Don’t know/Refused

24

25

19

Survey by Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, Harvard School of Public Health. Methodology: Fieldwork conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates, February 5-8, 2004 and based on telephone interviews with a national adult sample of 1,201.

Which ONE issue mattered most in deciding how you voted today? (Check only one)

41%  Economy/Jobs19  Health care/Medicare17  War in Iraq7  Education7  Taxes3  Terrorism/National security

2004 Democratic primary exit polls conducted for the National Election Poll by Edison Media Research/Mitofsky International. Conducted February 17, 2004 among a sample of 2,277 voters exiting the Wisconsin Democratic primary.

Which ONE issue mattered most in deciding how you voted today? (Check only one)

34%  Economy/Jobs20  Health care/Medicare18  War in Iraq9  Education5  Taxes4  Terrorism/National security

2004 Democratic primary exit polls conducted for the National Election Poll by Edison Media Research/Mitofsky International. Conducted February 10, 2004 among a sample of 1,685 voters exiting the Virginia Democratic primary.

Which ONE issue mattered most in deciding how you voted today? (Check only one)

39%  Economy/Jobs19  Health care/Medicare15  War in Iraq9  Education6  Taxes4  Terrorism/National security

2004 Democratic primary exit polls conducted for the National Election Poll by Edison Media Research/Mitofsky International. Conducted February 10, 2004 among a sample of 2,513 voters exiting the Tennessee Democratic primary.

Which ONE issue mattered most in deciding how you voted today? (Check only one)

31%  Economy/Jobs23  Health care/Medicare19  War in Iraq9  Education6  Taxes5  Terrorism/National security

2004 Democratic primary exit polls conducted for the National Election Poll by Edison Media Research/Mitofsky International. Conducted February 3, 2004 among a sample of 2,093 voters exiting the Arizona Democratic primary.

Which ONE issue mattered most in deciding how you voted today? (Check only one)

35%  Economy/Jobs20  Health care/Medicare20  War in Iraq7  Education6  Terrorism/National security3  Taxes

2004 Democratic primary exit polls conducted for the National Election Poll by Edison Media Research/Mitofsky International. Conducted February 3, 2004 among a sample of 1,197 voters exiting the Delaware Democratic primary.

Which ONE issue mattered most in deciding how you voted today? (Check only one)

36%  Economy/Jobs21  Health care/Medicare13  Education12  War in Iraq6  Taxes4  Terrorism/National security

2004 Democratic primary exit polls conducted for the National Election Poll by Edison Media Research/Mitofsky International. Conducted February 3, 2004 among a sample of 1,400 voters exiting the Missouri Democratic primary.

Which ONE issue mattered most in deciding how you voted today? (Check only one)

38%  Economy/Jobs19  Health care/Medicare12  War in Iraq10  Education7  Taxes6  Terrorism/National security

2004 Democratic primary exit polls conducted for the National Election Poll by Edison Media Research/Mitofsky International. Conducted February 3, 2004 among a sample of 1,501 voters exiting the Oklahoma Democratic primary.

Which ONE issue mattered most in deciding how you voted today? (Check only one)

47%  Economy/Jobs20  Health care/Medicare10  War in Iraq9  Education4  Taxes2  Terrorism/National security

2004 Democratic primary exit polls conducted for the National Election Poll by Edison Media Research/Mitofsky International. Conducted February 3, 2004 among a sample of 2,033 voters exiting the South Carolina Democratic primary.