WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, March 15) -- As Washington turns its attention to shoring up Medicare, the debate has centered on increased funding for the trust fund while looking at ways to reform the 34-year-old program. But how do Americans feel about lawmakers' plans for change to the Medicare safety net?

An overwhelming majority of Americans agree that the threat of Medicare bankruptcy -- projected to take place by 2008 if no reforms are made -- must be dealt with by Congress and the president this year.

A January CNN poll¹ showed that at least nine in 10 adults polled ranked Medicare, along with Social Security and health care, as top or high priorities on the national agenda. Only education topped those legislative items.

But the public is not as united when it comes to the specifics involved with preserving Medicare.

President Bill Clinton has called for 15 percent of the federal budget surplus over the next 15 years to be set aside to bolster Medicare. The president's plan would put a total 72 percent of the surplus -- over $70 billion this year and estimated to increase in future years -- toward the Social Security Trust fund and the Medicare Trust Fund.

Shortly after Clinton's 1999 State of the Union address, in which he laid out this proposal, a Pew Research Center poll found that support for using the surplus to help stabilize Social Security and Medicare has risen substantially since last year.

According to the January Pew poll², half of those surveyed favored using surplus funds to reform the entitlement programs, over a tax cut, other domestic spending programs, or to help pay off the national debt.

Just 32 percent said Social Security and Medicare should get the surplus funds first in a January 1998 poll.

Republicans so far have not committed to Clinton's plan for using surplus monies for Medicare. It's an issue that Democrats have traditionally pushed and not surprisingly, most Americans say that overall Democrats have more credibility on the issue than GOP policy makers.

Even if Medicare coffers are padded with increased funding, most agree it will not be enough and that reform measures must be taken in order to ensure the program's future solvency.

The National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare is still considering its final recommendations to Congress, originally due on March 1. Among the leading proposals under review are raising the eligibility age, improving prescription drug coverage, raising premiums for wealthier Americans and reducing payments to doctors and hospitals.

While it is difficult to poll on the details of Medicare, as most people under 65 do not know about or understand the system fully, the existing data shows that most Americans are very skittish about these proposed changes.

Of the proposed reforms, most received a thumbs-down from Americans polled in October 1998 by the Kaiser Family Foundation, in partnership with Harvard University³.

The only option that received a majority of supporters was having wealthy senior citizens pay more than others for Medicare coverage -- 65 percent support this reform.

But most say that should not be an option for other Medicare recipients. Eighty-four percent oppose across-the-board increases in out-of-pocket expenses.

A strong majority also opposes gradually raising the age of eligibility for Medicare benefits from 65 to 67. The Pew poll showed 63 percent against this move.

A CNN poll taken in June 1997, when the Senate passed a measure to do just that, the same number -- two thirds -- were against the change. The House did not follow the Senate's lead and the eligibility age was not increased. But lawmakers are still considering the possibility of this reform.

Americans polled by the Pew Research Center were split over the issue of reducing payments to doctors and hospitals for treating Medicare patients: 48 percent opposed the reduction while 47 percent were in favor of it.

All in all, opinion polls on the issue of Medicare would indicate that the White House and Congress have a tough sell if they want the American public to support the majority of proposed reforms.

CNN's Keating Holland contributed to this report.

2) The Pew Research Center For The People & The Press poll of 1,500 adults was taken January 22-25, 1999 by Princeton Survey Research Associates. It has a margin of sampling error +/- three percentage points. (Full poll results)

3) The Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard University survey of 1,909 adults was taken August 14- September 20, 1998 by Princeton Survey Research Associates. It has a margin of sampling error +/- three percentage points. (Full poll results)

Monday, March 15, 1999

• Medicare showing its age at 40
• Public opinion does not side with most proposed Medicare reforms
• Former potential foe Gephardt will endorse Gore
• Poll: Gore gets high marks on issues, character but lags behind other candidates
• Forbes expected to launch candidacy this week
• 2000 Senate races heating up
• Sen. Chafee announces retirement
• Los Angeles' pitch for DNC 2000 convention may have paid off
• Testimony resumes in McDougal trial
• Clinton tops poll on foreign policy
• McCain slams Clinton policies in speech on geopolitics
• Sununu co-chairing Quayle campaign
• Report: New Jersey gov. to run for Senate
• Sen. Mack makes retirement official
• Parties fight for control of House

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