AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond has called for “common sense” changes
\nin the Medicare system that can result in costs
\nsavings, while keeping vital programs intact, in
\nreaction to the recent 2014 Medicare Trustees
\nreport.<\/p>\n
The report “reminds us of the financial challenges
\nfacing Medicare,” LeaMond said, “along
\nwith the overall high cost of health care. With
\n64 million Americans expected to be enrolled in
\nMedicare by 2020, we must do more to reduce
\nwasteful spending throughout our health care
\nsystem.”<\/p>\n
She said the government can reduce costs
\nand find significant savings in Medicare and
\nthroughout the health care system with responsible
\nsolutions rather than harmful cuts.<\/p>\n
“By improving care coordination and better
\nuse of technology, clamping down on high drug
\nprices, reducing unnecessary services and
\nother wasteful spending, and targeting fraud and
\nabuse, for example, we would improve our health
\ncare system as a whole while saving money in
\nMedicare,” said LeaMond.<\/p>\n
“Some in Washington still hold on to the
\nmistaken belief that cutting benefits or asking
\nseniors to pay more is the best way to address
\nMedicare’s financial challenges, even though
\na typical senior has an annual income of just
\n$20,000 and already pays thousands of dollars in
\nout of pocket health care costs. But we know that
\nmillions of older Americans depend on Medicare
\nfor guaranteed, affordable health coverage, and
\nsimply cannot afford more than they already pay.<\/p>\n
“That’s why AARP advocates for common
\nsense changes that can ensure affordable health
\ncare for American families while improving the
\nquality and delivery of care for today’s seniors
\nand future generations.”<\/p>\n
Additionally, LeaMond addressed a longterm
\nprojected outlook by the Social Security
\nTrustees that indicated funds are in good shape.<\/p>\n
She said officials “must eventually make
\nmodest changes to ensure current and future
\ngenerations of Social Security beneficiaries
\nreceive what they’ve earned, it confirms that
\nSocial Security can continue to pay full benefits
\nfor nearly two decades.<\/p>\n
“The trustees once again report that the
\ncombined Old Age, Survivor and Disability Insurance
\nTrust can pay full retirement, survivor and
\ndisability benefits for approximately two more
\ndecades, and about 75 percent of benefits beyond
\nthat time for at least several generations more.<\/p>\n
“While the trustees report that the Disability
\nInsurance Trust Fund faces a fast-approaching
\nfunding gap, the report confirms that if the
\ncombined resources of the Social Security Trust
\nFunds are rebalanced, no beneficiary needs to
\nface an imminent reduction in their earned
\nbenefits,” said LeaMond.<\/p>\n
She said to ensure full benefits over the long
\nterm, there should be a national debate on growing retirement insecurity and the critical
\nrole of Social Security in the retirement income
\nframework.<\/p>\n
“Americans of all ages deserve an honest,
\nopen, national discussion about the value of
\nSocial Security and its importance to millions
\nof retired workers, spouses, children, veterans,
\nand persons with disabilities. We strongly urge
\nCongress to hold a separate debate on the solvency
\nand adequacy of Social Security, as it is
\na separate, self-financed, program that people
\npay into throughout their lives and count on for
\neach generation of our families,” said LeaMond.<\/p>\n
She said many politicians in Washington
\ntalk about harmful changes to Social Security
\nas part of a budget debate without considering
\n“the devastating impact such changes would
\nhave on the millions of American families who
\ndepend on their earned benefits. AARP believes
\nit is wrong to try to balance the budget by jeopardizing
\nAmericans’ income security, especially
\nwhen so many have woefully little set aside for
\nretirement and struggle with even their own
\ncurrent economic security.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond has called for “common sense” changes in the Medicare system that can result in costs savings, while keeping vital programs intact, in reaction to the recent 2014 Medicare Trustees report. The report “reminds…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[57,82],"class_list":["post-15494","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-senior-living-retirement","tag-business-news","tag-healthcare"],"yoast_head":"\r\n