Florida: U.S. House of Representatives, 6th District

Candidates

David Bruderly, Democrat
Clifford Stearns, Republican

Issues: Prescription Drugs | Social Security | Health Care |

The issue boxes contained on this page are not clickable online. Please print the page and make notes for your reference.

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: David Bruderly

I support a prescription drug benefit that is affordable for both beneficiaries and taxpayers and completely voluntary. I especially embrace plans that emphasize consumer choice, in which Americans greatly believe. I support using the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) as a model. Seniors deserve the same array of choices in their health insurance that federal employees, congressional staff, and Members of Congress have.

Candidate Response: Clifford Stearns

I support a prescription drug benefit that is affordable for both beneficiaries and taxpayers and completely voluntary. I especially embrace plans that emphasize consumer choice, in which Americans greatly believe. I support using the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) as a model. Seniors deserve the same array of choices in their health insurance that federal employees, congressional staff, and Members of Congress have.

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: David Bruderly

I oppose any alteration in benefits for current beneficiaries or near-retirees. My mother lived with me in the latter years of her life and always impressed upon me that the system was working fine for her and to leave it as is, and I agree.

Candidate Response: Clifford Stearns

I oppose any alteration in benefits for current beneficiaries or near-retirees. My mother lived with me in the latter years of her life and always impressed upon me that the system was working fine for her and to leave it as is, and I agree.

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: David Bruderly

As with a prescription drug benefit for seniors, to expand health insurance coverage to uninsured persons, I favor using cafeteria-style options such as the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) as a model. This system provides the best way to offer affordable coverage at a high level of quality, just as federal employees, congressional staff, and Members of Congress are able to purchase for themselves and their families.

Candidate Response: Clifford Stearns

As with a prescription drug benefit for seniors, to expand health insurance coverage to uninsured persons, I favor using cafeteria-style options such as the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) as a model. This system provides the best way to offer affordable coverage at a high level of quality, just as federal employees, congressional staff, and Members of Congress are able to purchase for themselves and their families.