Poll: Seniors trust Dems more on Medicare

Seniors who rank Medicare and Social Security as their top issues trust Democrats far more on the issue than Republicans, according to a new poll. 

{mosads}The Morning Consult poll finds that 47 percent of seniors with the programs as their No. 1 priority trust Democrats more, compared to 19 percent who trust Republicans more. 

However, among all seniors, not just those ranking the issue most important, the divide is much smaller. There, 37 percent trust Democrats more, while 36 percent trust Republicans. 

The poll comes as House lawmakers from both parties have been able to compromise on a deal to change Medicare’s payment formula for doctors to repeal automatic cuts known as the sustainable growth rate (SGR) and to try to shift incentives from rewarding quantity to quality in care. 

A separate Morning Consult poll released Monday found that seniors are not paying much attention to this legislation, though. Only 22 percent said they had heard “a lot” or “some” about the bill. 

Still, asked if they supported legislation that would increase doctors’ payments under Medicare, 53 percent said yes, while 26 percent said no. 

By a 77 percent to 12 percent margin, seniors oppose legislation that would increase costs for them. 

The SGR legislation drew some objections in Congress because it makes wealthier seniors pay a higher share of premiums.