AARP Arkansas gave Arkansas public television viewers statewide a chance to make their voices heard on Social Security and Medicare with a live televised conversation on the Arkansas Educational Television Network (AETN).

See also: You’ve Earned a Say

The hour-long program, titled “You’ve Earned a Say on Medicare and Social Security,” aired the evening of Thursday, July 12 on AETN, the statewide Public Broadcasting System (PBS) affiliate. The program, underwritten by AARP Arkansas, is available to view online.
 
A four-member panel including AARP Director of Federal Health and Family Advocacy Ariel Gonzalez and AR ASD-Advocacy Herb Sanderson participated in a moderated discussion and answered questions from viewers. The other panelists were Sarah Schultz-Lackey, Public Affairs Office of the Regional Commissioner, Social Security Administration, and Melissa Simpson, Director of the Arkansas Insurance Department’s Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP).
 
In Arkansas, 635,041 people receive Social Security benefits, and 536,817 receive Medicare benefits. Arkansans have earned the coverage, benefits, protections and guarantees of Medicare and Social Security, and these programs will face a number of challenges in the coming years, including changing demographics and rising health costs. “You’ve Earned a Say” is a series of events hosted by AARP that allows Americans to participate in a conversation about protecting and strengthening these programs now and in the future.

AARP Arkansas has hosted approximately 48 in-person You’ve Earned a Say conversations throughout the state and more are planned through the end of the year to give Arkansans a voice in the future of these important programs.

Stay up to date on You’ve Earned a Say community conversations and other key issues affecting Arkansans 50+ by checking our blog, “liking” our Facebook page, and following us on Twitter.