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The Politics of Aging Social Security Medicare Health Care Reform The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare Janet Witt, MS. RD. Grassroots Manager www.ncpssm.org 1800 998-0181 Fairy Tales There are two kinds of Fairy Tales: Those that begin…. “Once Upon a Time” And those that begin with…. “If elected I Promise.” Politics If you want to slow the aging process……… Send it through Congress Will Rogers No Matter How Flat the Pancake There’s Always Two Sides No “Big Government” States rights Trickle down effect Personal responsibility Belief in market forces We See Things as WE are Not as THEY are Federal guidelines Percolate up effect Social responsibility Belief in the use of government forces Not adverse to government 6 Debate since 1776 How much government is too much? What is the role of Government? How many rights should states have? How much power to the President? How many individual rights? Taxation? Regulation? Personal freedom? SOCIAL SECURITY It’s a “social” insurance program Designed to be a safety net A guaranteed benefit An intergenerational transfer Inflation protection Disability benefits What’s it Worth? $225,00 for a typical retiree $414,000 equivalent to a disability insurance policy 69% of Social Security benefits go to retired persons 17% of Social Security goes to people with disabilities 14% of Social Security goes to survivors Social Security A large insurance pool spreads risk Cost of living adjustments are made to keep up with inflation Low wage earners receive a larger replacement rate on their earnings Social Security pays for itself A Social Insurance system is not welfare Findings of the 2008 Social Security Trustees Report The Social Security Trust funds are fully financed through 2037 78% of scheduled annual benefits can be paid at that time Outlays exceed OASDI tax income in 2017 Social Security Facts 2008 50 million people received benefits 34 million retired workers and their dependents 6 million survivors of deceased workers 9 million disabled workers and their dependents 163 million paid payroll taxes in 08 Privatization Privatization is a plan to dismantle Social Security Privatization results in cuts to Social Security benefits with no guarantee that private investments can replace lost benefits Medicare Medicare is health care for people 65 and older and those with certain diseases and disabled people under 65 In 2008, 44.1 million people were covered by Medicare: 36.9 million age 65 and older and 7.2 million disabled people Medicare Maze Part A = Hospital Care Part B = The Doctor Part A & B, together, is the “ORIGINAL” Medicare -------------------------------------------Part C = Medicare Advantage or Managed Care Part D = The Prescription Drug Benefit Private Medicare Parts C & D are “private” Medicare supplements with many different plans across the United states provided through insurance companies regulated by Medicare. Can we afford Medicare? The real question is can we afford the rising cost of healthcare? What is an “entitlement?” What is “Universal?” What do we want? Medicare Policy Challenges Spending growth Improving value Protecting the most vulnerable beneficiaries Physician payment The role of private plans The prescription drug benefit Added benefits Health Care Goals To slow the rising costs of health care To cover the uninsured To extend the life of the Medicare Trust Fund To improve benefits The Health Care Challenge Unchecked inflation in health care costs One out of every six people have no health insurance We have the most expensive health care in the world Need for affordable and portable health insurance The Health Care Problem Total health care spending is 16% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) If we do nothing…health care costs will grow faster then the economy Medicare Doesn’t Work in a Vacuum Cost containment in health care is critical to the Medicare program If health care costs are not slowed down, Medicare cannot survive Who Do You Trust? The Government? The Insurance Companies? The Pharmaceutical Companies? REALITY CHECK! 80% don’t care about your problems and the other 20% are glad you have them! Where Will the Road Lead Us? Don’t Panic Whatever happens next, changes in health care will be a process, not an event! What is Grassroots? Grassroots are the people who advocate on an issue and send a message to their elected delegation from their state, county and neighborhood regarding their thoughts and concerns on the issue. What is Leadership Managers light a fire under people. Leaders light a fire IN people to take action. Get involved! If you don’t stand for something, You will fall for anything. Is Medicare the future or the past? You can make a difference in the health care debate. WWW.NCPSSM.ORG www.myspace.com/nationalcommittee Blog: www.entitledtoknow www.youtube.com/nationalcommittee Legislative Hotline 1800 998 0180
