Florida: U.S. House of Representatives, 22nd District

Candidates

Carol Roberts, Democrat
Clay Shaw, Republican

Issues: Prescription Drugs | Social Security | Health Care |

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Question

Many people with Medicare lack adequate coverage for prescription drugs and face skyrocketing costs. What solution do you support to help Medicare beneficiaries pay for their drugs?

AARP Response

AARP believes an acceptable Medicare drug benefit needs to meet the following tests:

First, the benefit must offer real value at an affordable price. The monthly premium should be less than $35. The beneficiary’s deductible and co-payments should be reasonable and affordable, (e.g. a deductible no greater than $250). There should be no gaps in coverage, leaving persons to pay 100% of high out-of-pocket costs.

Second, the benefit should be available to all Medicare beneficiaries on a voluntary basis. No one should be forced into the program. But no one should also be denied access to a Medicare drug benefit because of where they live, how sick they might be, or how much or how little income they have.

Third, the plan must help bring down soaring drug costs.

Fourth, the plan must include additional help for low-income persons.

Issue	Yes	No	Unclear
Creates an affordable monthly premium
Supports a fair deductible and co-payment
Provides no gaps in coverage

Candidate Response: Carol Roberts

I support a guaranteed prescription drug benefit through Medicare that lowers the cost of drugs for all seniors with only a modest monthly premium and small co-payment. The plan passed by House Republicans, supported by my opponent, leaves it up to insurance companies to create the system – which they have said they will not do – and leaves seniors liable for thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs. That is not my approach. The fact that seniors can purchase drugs for a fraction of the cost from Canada is one of the reasons I established a toll-free number so seniors in my district can find out how to buy prescriptions from Canada. It’s a first step until we guarantee low cost prescriptions through Medicare.

Candidate Response: Clay Shaw

I am committed to modernizing Medicare for the 21st century and creating prescription drug coverage to provide seniors with additional health care benefits. I voted for the Medicare Modernization and Prescription Drug Act of 2002 (H.R. 4954) to create a prescription drug benefit under Medicare in a fiscally responsible manner. H.R. 4954 is a voluntary, Medicare entitlement that enables seniors to choose a prescription drug plan that best fits their medical needs. H.R. 4954 also creates Medicare coverage for a free, initial physical, provides coverage for cholesterol screening, increases payments for mammographies, and secures seniors’ access to health providers by modifying Medicare payments. I believe that adding a prescription drug benefit is the next critical step in modernizing Medicare.

Question

Do you support or oppose replacing part of Social Security with individual accounts?

AARP Response

AARP strongly opposes replacing ANY part of Social Security with individual accounts. Social Security is not in crisis. Without any changes in current law, Social Security can pay 100% of benefits until 2041. But individual accounts funded with Social Security dollars mean Social Security would face financial problems sooner.

"Personal control" sounds appealing. But substituting private accounts, even for part of Social Security, drains money from Social Security, which means less money to pay guaranteed benefits.

Creating these private accounts requires trading today’s inflation-protected lifetime guaranteed benefit for an account subject to market risk and not guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Inflation, market turns, or sudden loss of employment can also mean that your private account may not have enough money to provide an adequate benefit. AARP supports options that help Americans save for their retirement through individual accounts on top of Social Security; but opposes replacing any part of Social Security’s guaranteed benefit.

Issue	Yes	No	Unclear
Creates individual accounts out of Social Security
Position means less money for guaranteed benefits
Position guarantees benefits for your lifetime

Candidate Response: Carol Roberts

Social Security is the core social compact between the US and its senior citizens. I oppose replacing any of Social Security with individual accounts, which would in effect privatize the system. I support finding a bipartisan solution for the system’s long-term security. Today’s economic uncertainty demonstrates the folly of placing Social Security funds in the stock market, and is counter to the program’s purpose of providing a monthly guaranteed benefit. I have signed a pledge that I will never vote to privatize Social Security. My opponent drafted an $8 trillion bill that privatizes the system, or as he puts it, creates “private accounts” using money from the Social Security Trust Fund. These semantics are meant to hide that “privatization” and “private accounts” are the same.

Candidate Response: Clay Shaw

I am committed to saving Social Security for all current retirees, near retirees and current workers without touching one dime of the Social Security Trust Fund, cutting any benefits for current retirees, “privatizing” the program or raising taxes. All retirees and workers must be guaranteed their promised benefits. My Social Security Guarantee Plus Plan (H.R. 3497) has been confirmed by the Social Security Administration and the Clinton and Bush Administrations to save Social Security for 75 years and beyond. My plan builds on the existing system but does not cut benefits or privatize Social Security. My plan allows workers to grow their nest eggs through a voluntary, personal investment account, while guaranteeing promised benefits regardless of the account’s performance

Question

In the face of escalating costs, how would you reform the health care system to make it available, affordable and accessible for every American?

AARP Response

AARP supports measures to achieve access to affordable health care coverage for all individuals, an approach that would address the needs of those without public or private insurance or those at risk of losing coverage.

In the absence of universal coverage, AARP supports incremental reforms specifically targeted to particular populations that significantly improve coverage options for those without public or private insurance or those at risk for losing coverage.

These reforms include:

• Opening existing public programs (e.g. Medicaid) to new categories of people who are uninsured;
  
  
• Inducing employers to offer coverage;
  
  
• Subsidizing the cost of private coverage for those who are uninsured, underinsured, or at risk of losing coverage;
  
  
• Expanding the continuation of group health care coverage at group rates to persons whose access is ending (e.g. expanding COBRA coverage).
  
  

Issue	Yes	No	Unclear
Supports health care for all Americans
Proposes steps to cover more people

Candidate Response: Carol Roberts

It is intolerable that 40 million Americans are without access to affordable health care. I will work toward increasing health care access to more Americans. I support guaranteed prescription drug coverage through Medicare, with caps on monthly premiums and lower drug costs; exploring lowering the eligibility age for Medicare to 55 so that more Americans can afford health care as they get older; allowing pharmacies to purchase prescription drugs from Canada for resale in the US; and full funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIPs) so that younger Americans get the health care they need. Palm Beach County’s Health Care District could serve as a model, as it provides health coverage for medically needy residents in the County.

Candidate Response: Clay Shaw

I am concerned about the rising cost of health care and the number of Americans who lack adequate health care coverage. The biggest problem with our current health care system is cost. If the cost of medical treatment were lower, health insurance premiums would be lower and more people could afford the quality care they need. I support legislation to reform medical malpractice law, make important administrative reforms, and broaden insurance coverage. I also support tax-free medical savings accounts (MSAs), which are accounts that pay for medical expenses of the individual’s choosing. MSAs would ensure funds are available for needed medical expenses and also provide a personal incentive to purchase health care wisely.