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AARP’s 2025 Social Security and Medicare public opinion survey reveals that Americans age 50-plus continue to highly value both programs. This research highlights the important role people

perceive these programs to play despite heightened political polarization and widespread misinformation. A key takeaway is that older people — of all backgrounds — continue to worry about

the future of Social Security and Medicare, and they want lawmakers to work across the aisle now to ensure the future of these programs.   KEY FINDINGS Nearly all Americans age 50-plus say

Social Security and Medicare are important for financial security in retirement, including 88 percent who say Social Security is very important and 83 percent who say Medicare is very

important. Though they see these programs as important, Americans age 50-plus express skepticism over the future of Social Security and Medicare. * More than 8 in 10 are worried that Social

Security (86 percent) and Medicare (83 percent) will not be able to provide at least the same level of benefits in the future that they provide today. * Around three-quarters are concerned

that Social Security (75 percent) or Medicare (76 percent) will not be there when they need it. They also recognize the need to put these programs on firmer financial footing: 81 percent say

changes need to be made to Social Security to keep it financially sustainable for the future, and 67 percent say the same about Medicare. Americans 50-plus also expect their elected

officials to work together — and quickly — to resolve financial concerns around these programs. * Nearly 9 in 10 say Congress must work immediately to find a financial solution for Social

Security (93 percent) and Medicare (89 percent). * They also agree that Republicans and Democrats must work together to find a solution to Social Security’s (94 percent) and Medicare’s (92

percent) financial problems. * Elected officials should take note that 90 percent say Social Security is important when deciding their vote in elections and 86 percent say the same about

Medicare. An overwhelming majority (89 percent) of adults 50-plus agree that Social Security and Medicare together are critical to a secure retirement.  METHODOLOGY Interviews were conducted

from February 3 to February 18, 2025 among nonoverlapping samples of adults 50-plus using NORC’s Foresight 50+ and AmeriSpeak panels. Questions were asked of 1,035 adults pertaining to the

Social Security program and 1,063 adults pertaining to the Medicare program. Funded and operated by NORC at the University of Chicago, Foresight 50+ is a probability–based panel designed to

be representative of the U.S. household population 50 or older. Interviews were conducted online and via telephone. All data are weighted by age, sex, education, race/ethnicity, and region.

For more information, please contact Bryan Miller at [email protected]. For media inquiries, contact External Relations at [email protected].