Our Social Security values

AARP has a long history of supporting proposals to strengthen Social Security and opposing those that undermine the retirement security of today's older people and future generations. Throughout the debate in Washington over how to strengthen Social Security, AARP will fight to ensure that any final plan is based on these critical values:

• Social Security should continue to guarantee that Americans who work and pay into the system receive benefits based on what they earn and contribute.
  
  
• Social Security benefits should keep up with inflation and last for as long as an individual lives.
  
  
• Social Security needs to stay on stable financial ground, but any adjustments should be implemented gradually so people can plan for their future. Any changes should never impact people in or near retirement.
  
  
• We must protect benefits for people who count on them most, including surviving spouses and families, low-wage workers and individuals who become disabled and can no longer work.
  
  
• Social Security should be kept separate from the rest of the federal budget.

Strengthening Medicare

Americans have been paying into Medicare with the promise of guaranteed health coverage when they retire. But the program faces serious long-term financial challenges, especially with rising health costs and an aging population. Unless something is done, Medicare will face a serious shortfall by 2024.

Medicare needs to be put on stable ground for the future, but any effort to strengthen it must address the rising costs of health care in general. By making our health care system more efficient, and by eliminating fraud, waste and abuse, we can help ensure that future generations will have access to affordable and quality health care.

Our Medicare values

AARP has a long history of supporting plans to strengthen Medicare and opposing those that undermine the health security of older people. As policymakers debate how to strengthen Medicare, AARP will fight to ensure that any final plan is based on these critical values:

• Medicare should be strengthened and improved so both current and future generations can count on having access to high-quality, affordable coverage.
  
  
• Medicare should continue to guarantee specific benefits that are affordable and meet a person's health care needs.
  
  
• Medicare should offer choices that ensure access to high-quality health care.
  
  
• Medicare should improve the quality, safety and efficiency of care by emphasizing value and cracking down on fraud, waste and abuse.

Also of Interest

• Does Washington have anywhere to go but up?
• AARP "pleased" with parts of the fiscal cliff deal
  

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