Medicare Blog

what should the president and congress do to strengthen and protect medicare and social security

by Shawn Hansen I Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago

Will Trump's budget protect Medicare and Social Security?

His budgets have sought cuts. President Trump vowed Thursday that he “will protect Medicare and Social Security” — a promise akin to one he made as a candidate in 2016. But throughout his first term, he repeatedly tried to cut these programs in his proposed budgets.

Will we hold Congress accountable for their decisions on social security?

And we will hold all members of Congress accountable for their decisions on these crucial lifelines. We are committed to working with Congress to strengthen the financial viability of Social Security and Medicare for today’s and future generations. But the deceptively named TRUST Act is the wrong approach.

Why are Social Security and Medicare so important?

The programs are a critical lifeline for myriad Americans. Social Security is the main source of income for more than 34 million older households. For many, it is nearly all their income. And of the 62 million people covered by Medicare, half have incomes of less than $27,000.

Will the Senate Republicans’ plan end Social Security?

I mean that would mean an end to Medicare and Social Security and to Medicaid, which provides health care coverage for 86 million Americans including our seniors in nursing homes.” On April 28, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee tweeted that the “Senate Republicans’ plan would END” Social Security.

How can the Social Security system be improved?

How to increase your Social Security payments:Work for at least 35 years.Earn more.Work until your full retirement age.Delay claiming until age 70.Claim spousal payments.Include family.Don't earn too much in retirement.Minimize Social Security taxes.More items...

How can I increase my Social Security and Medicare?

Protect the retirement age. Support increasing benefits for seniors to keep up with the high cost of living. Hold healthcare providers and insurers accountable for cutting costs. Make sure that seniors get every penny of the benefits that they worked for, and oppose efforts to slash Medicare and Social Security.

Did Congress increase Social Security?

Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Information for 2022 Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for approximately 70 million Americans will increase 5.9 percent in 2022.

Which US president helped to establish the Social Security system?

The Social Security Act was signed into law by President Roosevelt on August 14, 1935. In addition to several provisions for general welfare, the new Act created a social insurance program designed to pay retired workers age 65 or older a continuing income after retirement.

What are the main options for Social Security reform?

4 Options to strengthen Social Security fall into three basic categories: 1) increase tax revenues to the program; 2) reduce benefits (future and/or current); and/or 3) increase returns to trust fund investments by modifying the investment options.

How can the Social Security deficit be fixed?

Three Ways to Fix Social Security's Money ProblemsEliminate the Social Security Tax Cap.Reduce Benefits for High Earners.Raise the Full Retirement Age.

How did Congress make Social Security more fair?

By moving to a system in which initial benefits were tied only to wage growth, Congress made Social Security less sensitive to unforeseen economic changes. It also created a system in which benefits would replace about the same percentage of pre-retirement earnings for future retirees.

What did Ronald Reagan do to Social Security?

In 1981, Reagan ordered the Social Security Administration (SSA) to tighten up enforcement of the Disability Amendments Act of 1980, which resulted in more than a million disability beneficiaries having their benefits stopped.

Who was the first president to tap into Social Security?

President Lyndon B. Johnson1.STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT UPON MAKING PUBLIC THE REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL ON AGING--FEBRUARY 9, 19648.LETTER TO THE NATION'S FIRST SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFICIARY INFORMING HER OF INCREASED BENEFITS--SEPTEMBER 6, 196515 more rows

What was the major goal of the Social Security Act?

An act to provide for the general welfare by establishing a system of Federal old-age benefits, and by enabling the several States to make more adequate provision for aged persons, blind persons, dependent and crippled children, maternal and child welfare, public health, and the administration of their unemployment ...

Was the Social Security Act successful?

Eighty-six years after President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act on August 14, 1935, Social Security remains one of the nation's most successful, effective, and popular programs.

Why might the Social Security Act be considered the most important achievement of the New Deal?

Why might the Social Security Act be considered the most important achievement of the New Deal? The social Security Act might be the most important achievement because it provided immediate aid to the people with no jobs and to the families, children, and elderly.

Is the SSA closing its field offices?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has been summarily closing field offices (primarily in urban areas), creating a transportation burden for low-income claimants. Legislation from Rep. Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.) and Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.) would establish guidelines for SSA when it proposes to close or consolidate field offices — including a temporary moratorium on all office closures.

Does Medicare have a limit on out of pocket expenses?

Medicare currently does not have a limit on annual out-of-pocket costs, meaning seniors without supplemental Medi-gap insurance can be stuck with exorbitant medical bills — or even face bankruptcy. The new Congress should enact a catastrophic cap to protect the elderly from financial ruin simply because they get sick.

Crist: Protect, strengthen Social Security, Medicare

Social Security and Medicare represent America’s promise that after a lifetime of hard work and paying into the system, senior citizens have earned greater financial security in their golden years, free from abject poverty. Likewise, Medicaid is a commitment to the very poor and disabled, that they not be left hopeless and without medical care.

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How many people are covered by Medicare?

And of the 62 million people covered by Medicare, half have incomes of less than $27,000. Because the benefits people receive from these programs are vital, older Americans expect Congress to protect and strengthen them for today and tomorrow.

Do Republicans and Democrats feel the same?

Republicans and Democrats feel almost exactly the same. Americans overwhelmingly believe they have earned their Social Security and Medicare benefits after years of working and paying taxes for them. The programs are a critical lifeline for myriad Americans.

Fact check: 'Record' job gains still leave the U.S. labor market in worse shape than Great Recession

On the last night of his party’s convention, President Trump bragged about “record” job gains in recent months, but the 9.1 million jobs he touts come with some qualifiers.

Trump usually includes new material in major speeches. Not tonight

President Trump spoke for roughly 70 minutes on Thursday, one of the longest convention speeches in modern history.

Trump speech missing several of his favorite talking points

While President Trump launched attack after attack on Joe Biden, he left out a number of his favorite topics of criticism in his acceptance speech.

Fact check: Trump claims Biden wants to 'close all charter schools.' That's false

"Biden also vowed to oppose school choice and close all charter schools, ripping away the ladder of opportunity for Black and Hispanic children," Trump claimed on Tuesday night.

Fact check: Trump repeats out-of-context Biden comment to mislead on police stance

President Trump, arguing that Americans wouldn't be safe under Joe Biden, repeated a claim Mike Pence made Wednesday, quoting the former vice president as saying, "Yes, absolutely," as a response to whether he'd broadly support cutting funding for law enforcement.

Fact check: Trump boasts of delivering PPE early in pandemic, doesn't mention ongoing shortages

"We shipped hundreds of millions of masks, gloves and gowns to our frontline health care workers.

Trump mentions Kenosha, not Jacob Blake

Midway through his speech Thursday, Donald Trump mentioned Kenosha, Wisconsin — but did not make mention of Jacob Blake, who was shot seven times in the back by the city's police.

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