Controlling Rising Health Care Costs, Long-Term Solvency Noted by AARP as Priorities for Medicare, Social Security

Source: AARP Press Center | March 25, 2008

March 25, 2008

Contact: Drew Nannis, AARP, 202-434-2560, anannis@aarp.org

AARP issued a statement in response to today’s report from the Social Security and Medicare Trustees. The statement, from AARP Senior Vice President David Sloane, follows:

“Today’s report is one more reminder that America’s health care system is in trouble. Skyrocketing health care costs are shortening Medicare’s lifespan, while reasonable steps like expanding health information technology and comparative medical research remain stalled in Congress. Costs to the program and the people it serves continue to climb – most acutely in the form of higher out-of-pocket costs for the people who rely on Medicare.

“As the trustees also remind us, Social Security faces a long-term financing problem that we can resolve with reasonable solutions. Millions of Americans have counted on Social Security’s defined benefit that is adjusted annually for inflation, and today’s workers should continue to receive the benefits they have earned for themselves and their families.

“Finding solutions to Social Security’s long-term solvency requires an honest discussion and political courage. The good news is that the sooner we start, the more reasonable those solutions can be. Congress should also look beyond Social Security to help Americans increase their personal retirement savings. Common sense solutions, like the Automatic IRA proposal, would give tens of millions of workers access to savings tools at their workplace.

“Today’s report reaffirms the need to move beyond partisan politics to address the longer term reforms of our health care system and the financial challenges in retirement.”

AARP

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, our monthly newspaper; AARP Segunda Juventud, our bimonthly magazine in Spanish and English; NRTA Live & Learn, our quarterly newsletter for 50+ educators; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.