Boomers' Medicare Outlook: National Council On Aging Poll Reveals Lack Of Understanding (PHOTOS)

Is 75 The New 60? Poll Reveals Conflicting Views On Aging, Medicare

For the nation's legion of aging baby boomers, 75 just might be the new 60.

According to a new survey conducted by the National Council on Aging and UnitedHealthcare, nearly out of every 10 Americans now believes that one does not officially become a "senior" until age 75.

Despite what appears to be a revised outlook on aging, the poll's other findings were considerably less optimistic: more than half of Americans aged 60 or over say they are indifferent or nervous by the prospect of Medicare, or don't understand it at all -- just as rising numbers of people are approaching eligibility for the federal program (as the Minnesota Star-Tribune is reporting, an average of 10,000 people a day will qualify over the next 20 years).

"Without a solid grasp of the basics of Medicare, older adults are not well-positioned to understand their options and find the coverage that best meets their needs," Jim Firman, CEO of the National Council on Aging, is quoted as saying.

Check out some of the new poll's key findings below:

National Council on Aging Survey 2011

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