Johnson, Thune, Herseth Sandlin Commit to Working for Health and Financial Security
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2007-12-13 08:40:47.520840-05:00
Health care costs are out of control for both individuals and employers. One in four Americans has difficulty paying medical bills and one in three says they have skipped treatment, tests or prescriptions because of costs. Forty-six million Americans are uninsured and middle class families are the fastest growing segment.
"In South Dakota, up to 90,000 of us are without health insurance each year," said AARP South Dakota State Director, Sarah Jennings. "AARP believes this is unacceptable."
Financial security is just as tenuous for too many Americans. National saving is at an all-time low and pension plans are dwindling. Half of all private sector workers are not signed up for a 401(k) or other employer-sponsored retirement plan. For many people, Social Security will be their only reliable, guaranteed retirement income source. But Social Security alone isn't enough.
"In South Dakota, 52 percent of Social Security recipients rely on the benefit to stay above the poverty line. Again, AARP believes this is simply unacceptable," Jennings said.
Lifetime financial and health security is at the core of the American dream - giving people the freedom and opportunity to make a better life for their families. That belief is at the heart of Divided We Fail, the largest initiative in AARP's history. The nearly 40 million members of AARP, including more than 102,000 in South Dakota are calling on Washington - Republicans and Democrats for action and answers on the issues of health and financial security.
"South Dakota's elected officials have taken an important first step," said Jennings. "AARP South Dakota commends Senator Tim Johnson, Senator John Thune, and Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, for committing to address these critical national priorities."
Senators Johnson and Thune, and Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin have all committed to work together, across party lines to sponsor or support legislation seeking to: provide every American with access to quality affordable health care; strengthen social security in a manner that treats all generations fairly; provide Americans with greater access to retirement plans and develop policies that help ensure all workers - regardless of age - can continue to work and contribute to society.
"We know that accomplishing our goal of finding solutions in health and financial security that benefit all generations will require the efforts of every single one of us," said Jennings. "AARP South Dakota thanks our congressional delegation for recognizing that the time has come to set aside differences and do what is right for all South Dakotans of all ages, and all Americans."
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