Andy Griffith Pitches Health Care Law in T.V. Ad

The 30-second spot (watch at left), which targets senior citizens, has Griffith, 86, attempting to reassure viewers that the new law will not alter their current benefits.

"1965, lot of good things came out that year, like Medicare," Griffith begins, adding, "This year, like always, we'll have our guaranteed benefits."

He continues, "And with the new health care law, more good things are coming," including, "free check-ups, lower prescription costs and better ways to protect us and Medicare from fraud."

The new ad comes on the heels of recent polling that suggests senior citizens remain more negative over the health care law than younger adults. A new Kaiser Family Foundation poll shows that while 50 percent of the public holds a favorable view of the new law, 46 percent of seniors say they do not. Another 50 percent believe the law will cut benefits previously provided to them.

According to the Associated Press, Medicare says the ad campaign is not political, but designed simply to educate senior citizens on the law's new benefits . The ad is expected to run on CNN, the Weather Channel, Hallmark and Lifetime - all channels popular among seniors.