AARP Executive Vice President Nancy
\nLeaMond has called for “common sense”
\nchanges in the Medicare system that can
\nresult in costs savings, while keeping vital
\nprograms intact, in reaction to the recent
\n2014 Medicare Trustees report.<\/p>\n
The report “reminds us of the financial
\nchallenges facing Medicare,” LeaMond said,
\n“along with the overall high cost of health
\ncare. With 64 million Americans expected to
\nbe enrolled in Medicare by 2020, we must do
\nmore to reduce wasteful spending throughout
\nour health care system.”<\/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.
\n“By improving care coordination and
\nbetter use of technology, clamping down
\non high drug prices, reducing unnecessary
\nservices and other wasteful spending, and
\ntargeting fraud and abuse, for example, we
\nwould improve our health care system as
\na whole while saving money in Medicare,”
\nsaid LeaMond.<\/p>\n
“Some in Washington still hold on to the mistaken belief that cutting benefits or
\nasking seniors to pay more is the best way
\nto address Medicare’s financial challenges,
\neven though a typical senior has an annual
\nincome of just $20,000 and already pays
\nthousands of dollars in out of pocket health
\ncare costs. But we know that millions of older
\nAmericans depend on Medicare for guaranteed,
\naffordable health coverage, and simply
\ncannot afford more than they already pay.<\/p>\n
“That’s why AARP advocates for common
\nsense changes that can ensure affordable
\nhealth care for American families while
\nimproving the quality and delivery of care
\nfor today’s seniors and future generations.”
\nAdditionally, LeaMond addressed a longterm
\nprojected outlook by the Social Security
\nTrustees that indicated funds are in good
\nshape.<\/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
\nthat Social Security can continue to pay full
\nbenefits for nearly two decades.<\/p>\n
“The trustees once again report that the
\ncombined Old Age, Survivor and Disability
\nInsurance Trust can pay full retirement,
\nsurvivor and disability benefits for approximately
\ntwo more decades, and about
\n75 percent of benefits beyond that time for
\nat least several generations more.<\/p>\n
“While the trustees report that the
\nDisability Insurance Trust Fund faces a
\nfast-approaching funding gap, the report
\nconfirms that if the combined resources of
\nthe Social Security Trust Funds are rebalanced,
\nno beneficiary needs to face an imminent
\nreduction in their earned benefits,”
\nsaid LeaMond.<\/p>\n
She said to ensure full benefits over the
\nlong term, there should be a national debate
\non growing retirement insecurity and the
\ncritical role of Social Security in the retirement income framework.<\/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,
\nveterans, and persons with disabilities. We
\nstrongly urge Congress to hold a separate debate
\non the solvency and adequacy of Social
\nSecurity, as it is a separate, self-financed,
\nprogram that people pay into throughout
\ntheir lives and count on for each generation
\nof our families,” said LeaMond.<\/p>\n
She said many politicians in Washington
\ntalk about harmful changes to Social
\nSecurity as part of a budget debate without
\nconsidering “the devastating impact
\nsuch changes would have on the millions
\nof American families who depend on their
\nearned benefits. “<\/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":88,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[66,96,129],"yoast_head":"\r\n