Poll: Large Shares of Americans Say Medicare Is Personally Important

From the Kaiser Family Foundation

Many Americans say that the programs are important to them personally, including three-quarters (76 percent) overall who cite Medicare as important to them and their family and about half (51 percent) who say the same for Medicaid. Democrats are more likely than Republicans and independents to say Medicare is personally important to them, but still about seven in ten Republicans say the program is personally important. 

When asked why Medicare is important to them, over nine in ten say they like knowing the program exists for seniors and younger adults with long-term disabilities (94 percent), and that either they, or someone else in their family, may need Medicare benefits in the future (93 percent). A large majority also say it is important to them because they or someone they know has received health care paid for by Medicare (80 percent).