| The issue of healthcare reform affects all | | | | men and women tend to think more about their |
| Americans, regardless of age. However, it will | | | | families and stop believing that they are invincible. |
| have different impacts on each demographic. | | | | Therefore, they recognize the necessity of having |
| Those impacts are borne out by a recent poll. | | | | a reliable health insurance plan. |
| According to the University of Iowa, their recent | | | | In fact, many baby boomers are so concerned |
| survey found that a slight majority of middle-aged | | | | with becoming uninsured that they are willing to |
| respondents favor health insurance reform. The | | | | suffer through the disadvantages the legislation |
| 35 to 54 age group includes the bulk of Baby | | | | brings. Nearly two-thirds of this demographic |
| Boomers, as well as the beginnings of Generation | | | | believe that the law will increase their |
| X. 53% of them approve the legislation. | | | | out-of-pocket expenses. Most of them also think |
| Why would those in middle age be especially open | | | | that the quality of coverage will not improve. |
| to reform? They are the ones who are most | | | | Despite those issues, the respondents appear to |
| susceptible to the downfalls of the former status | | | | consider them better than the alternative. |
| quo. 35-to-54 year olds are more likely to have | | | | Since they are further away from being eligible |
| pre-existing conditions that would prevent them | | | | for Medicare, the 35-to-54 demographic considers |
| from buying a health insurance policy on the open | | | | the potential of being unable to access affordable |
| market. With the recession, more of them have | | | | health insurance coverage as more pressing than |
| lost their employer-sponsored health benefits--or | | | | the possible cuts to Medicare. Support for |
| had to pay for expensive COBRA policies. | | | | healthcare reform ranges in the 30 to 35 percent |
| Unlike younger Americans (just 28 percent of | | | | range for those 55 and older. |
| 18-to-34-year olds support the law), middle-aged | | | | |