Alliance for Retired Americans Blog

Alliance Supports Sen. Rockefeller’s Bill as Way to Achieve Medicare Savings

The Alliance released a statement this week regarding legislation that lowers prescription drug prices. In a response to the federal government paying unconscionably high drug prices for dual-eligibles on Medicare, Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) introduced a bill on Tuesday to require drug companies to provide discounts for low-income Medicare beneficiaries, as they currently do under Medicaid.  The Alliance strongly supports Sen. Rockefeller’s legislation, S. 740, which would save taxpayers and Medicare beneficiaries billions of dollars.

After passage of the Medicare prescription drug law in 2003, drug companies received windfalls worth billions of dollars, as a result of no longer applying rebates for dual-eligibles (beneficiaries who qualify for Medicare and Medicaid).  Senator Rockefeller’s 2013 Medicare Drug Savings Act reverts back to previous law and recaptures the savings lost under the 2003 law.  “By simply returning these beneficiaries to Medicaid-negotiated rebates, taxpayers would save $141.2 billion over the next ten years,” said Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance. The Rockefeller bill has 18 cosponsors listed here. Read the full Rockefeller press release and see a coalition letter of support here.

Alliance Lobby Week Comes Just Days Before Sequester Cuts are Set to Kick In

Alliance members scheduled over 70 district meetings with their elected officials for this week’s President’s Day Lobby Week. The appointments came as the Senate is set to vote next week - right after the Congressional recess ends - on a plan to stop the March 1 sequester (automatic budget cuts) without harming Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

On February 14, Senate Democrats released their plan to avert the sequester for the rest of the year — it contains $110 billion in deficit reduction, evenly divided between spending cuts and new revenues. During Lobby Week, Alliance members have been asking senators to vote for this package and asking House members to vote for it should it come to the House.

View Presidents Day Week Lobby Visits and Events in a larger map

Included in the Lobby Week events: a rally and petition drop outside House Speaker John Boehner's (R) office in West Chester, Ohio on Wednesday.  Among those at risk if the cuts come to fruition: homebound and disabled seniors behind closed doors – “the hidden hungry” across the U.S.A., according to Larry Tomayko, interim chief executive officer of the Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA). If congressional domestic-spending cuts take effect on March 1, MOWAA faces an estimated 5.1% reduction in Older Americans Act funding. According to Americans for Tax Fairness, a recent Hart Research poll found that found that two-thirds of voters nationwide want the richest 2% (by 66% of voters) and large corporations (by 64% of voters) to pay more in taxes. The poll also found that 59% of voters say that we still need to do more to make sure the wealthy pay their fair share of taxes: .

David Cote Faces Protesters after Helping to Create the Simpson-Bowles Plan

Today, several New Hampshire Alliance members were among the 50 protesters who confronted CEO and “Fix the Debt” Leader David Cote over corporate tax breaks in Manchester, NH on Monday. Cote, president of Honeywell International, sat on the president’s Simpson-Bowles National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, and has advocated lowering the cost-of-living adjustments of Social Security recipients or raising the age of eligibility. “Instead of reducing the deficit on the backs of working Americans, corporations should pay taxes like the rest of us,” said Charlie Balban, president of the New Hampshire Alliance.

Nashua Telegraph

truthout

New Hampshire Labor News

Congress: Keep Your Promise!

Last Thursday, Alliance members joined activists and allies at over 40 events across the country – urging Members of Congress to keep the promises they made during the election season – to expire the Bush Tax Cuts for the top 2% and protect the promises of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

Please click here to join us in pledging to DO WHAT IT TAKES to inspire our elected leaders to follow through on their promises to protect our vital programs and expire the Bush Tax Cuts.

The election is behind us but the threat is ahead. In order to avoid budget cuts scheduled for January 1, Members of Congress are working to broker a deal. It must not be a deal that works against the issues we fought for all of this year in the lead-up to the election!

Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid were indeed at the forefront of this year’s debates; Americans spoke out and they chose many candidates who promised to protect these critical programs. Our work is not done, we need to make sure elected officials KEEP THEIR PROMISE to expire Bush Tax Cuts for the top 2% and protect our programs – Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

Please join us in pledging to DO WHAT IT TAKES to make sure the promise is kept, our programs are protected and the American peoples’ wishes are honored.

Protests Target Plans to Extend Bush Tax Cuts for the Wealthiest Americans

Protesters all across the U.S. gathered on Wednesday outside congressional offices and released short web advertisements targeting Republican economic plans. The protests attacked the Romney-Ryan Plan to make permanent the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest 2% of Americans. GOP lawmakers who recently voted to extend the tax cuts were also targeted.  The protesters brought with them large five-foot wide checks demonstrating the large sums that would be given to millionaires and billionaires if the Bush tax cuts were extended. The ads and protests were organized by groups including the Alliance for Retired Americans, Americans for Tax Fairness Action Fund, Health Care for America Now, Working America, and others. 

Over 125 Ohioans attended the Ohio Alliance convention in Columbus on Wednesday, then turned words into action, participating in four tax fairness events throughout the state – three at Sen. Rob Portman’s offices and one at Rep. Bill Johnson’s.

The Most Anti-Senior Ticket Ever!

Here's what Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans said today:

Mitt Romney’s choice of Rep. Paul Ryan as his running mate locks in place the most anti-senior ticket ever. These two men have admitted – on the record - the threats that they pose to Medicare and Social Security. One of our worst fears is that Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan will actually keep their promises.

Paul Ryan’s budget plan would end Medicare as we know it by turning it into a voucher system, shifting thousands of dollars in health care costs to seniors. He would also make older workers, who have trouble finding health insurance in the private marketplace, wait until they reach age 67 to qualify for Medicare benefits.

Imagine combining this with Mitt Romney’s plan to require Americans in all sectors, including
physically demanding jobs, to work until age 70 before they can be eligible for the Social Security benefits they have earned. The Romney-Ryan team would end guaranteed benefits on both Social Security and Medicare. What did seniors ever do to them?

The Congressional Budget Office projects that under the Ryan budget, federal Medicare expenditures on behalf of an average  new beneficiary would be $400 to $700 (6 to 11 percent) less in 2023, $1,200 to $2,200 (14 to 23 percent) less in 2030, and $5,900 to  $8,000 (35 to 42 percent) less in 2050 than under current law.

The Alliance for Retired Americans will do all it can the next three months to educate seniors on the Romney-Ryan plans for seniors. In the end, we hope that Paul Ryan goes down in history as another losing VP pick who makes future school children ask, ‘What were they thinking?’

Ryan’s plans are clear – and retirees would suffer the most

Legislators, Alliance Members Rebuke Votes to Repeal Health Care Reform

On Wednesday, supporters of President Obama’s health care law and the Democratic leadership from the House of Representatives gathered at the Capitol building for a press conference to hold the Republicans accountable for voting to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Alliance Regional Board Member and retired social studies teacher Bill Cea spoke on behalf of the Alliance, saying of the Affordable Care Act, “Not only is this good for your health, but it is also good public policy.”

Other Regional Board members showed their support by attending and speaking out - including Sam Burnett, Tim Foley, Larry Malone,  James Parent, Nancy True, Jody Weinreich, Marty Alvarado, Kenneth Stevens, Emmett Sheppard, JoEtta Brown, Louie Duran, John O'Brien and Mack Goodman.

The press conference was organized by the Democratic House leadership: Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA), Whip Steny Hoyer (MD) and Assistant Leader James Clyburn (SC). The three Representatives had strong words for their Republican colleagues, who voted to repeal the ACA, 244-185. Five Democrats joined the full Republican caucus in voting in favor of repeal; no GOP lawmakers crossed the aisle. For a complete tally of the vote, click here .

This week's vote was the 33rd attempt by congressional Republicans to repeal this law, a law that in the past two years has been approved by both houses of Congress, signed by the President, and upheld by the Supreme Court.  It is time to move on.  

 

Supreme's Health Law Ruling Celebrated Throughout Country

Yesterday's landmark decision by the Supreme Court on the Affordable Care Act was well-received by Alliance members and seniors throughout the country.

Because of the ACA, in 2011, over 3.6 million seniors on Medicare saved a total of $2.1 billion on their drug costs, an average of $604 person. And over 32 million seniors received at least one new free preventive care benefit through Medicare. 

Seniors throughout the state participated in press conferences and celebrations. Photos.

Wisconsin Alliance President Leon Burzynski commented, "Seniors have and will continue to benefit from the Affordable Care Act in many ways.  It is a positive step forward for all older Americans, our children, grandchildren and generations to come."

Maryland/DC Alliance President Frank Stella said, "Maryland is a better place to live today, thanks to today’s Supreme Court decision.  More than 750,000 older Marylanders will continue to receive improved health care because the court has upheld important advances in Medicare such as the closing of the doughnut hole in prescription drug coverage and the continuation of critical screening tests without deductibles and co-payments."

Here are some press clips and Alliance mentions

AZ
Arizona Daily Star
Republicans vow to repeal 'Obamacare': Politicians and candidates on both sides weigh in on constitutional issue, costs and fairness

CA
SJ weighs in on health care ruling‎
Stockton Record

Opinion: One Step Closer to a Single-Payer Health Care System
Patch.com

CT
Connecticut Mirror
Good news for retirees/After the ruling, a celebration‎

The Courant
Bette Marafino, executive vice president of the Connecticut Alliance of Retired Americans

The Day
'A gigantic win for the people of Connecticut'; state officials react to Supreme Court ruling

FL
WPTV Channel 5 West Palm Beach NBC 12 noon and 5pm news
Click "Local reaction to health care ruling"

Advocates call on Gov. Rick Scott to implement Affordable Care Act
WTSP 10 News Tampa Bay

Florida reluctantly starts to implement Obama's health care law: Leaders may reject Medicaid expansion
Sun Sentinel, Orlando Sentinel

Advocates call on Gov. Scott to implement Affordable Care Act
First Coast News

IA
Democrats, advocates praise health care ruling
Mason City Globe Gazette

IL
AP, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle
Reaction from Illinois to health care ruling

Galesburg Register-Mail
Tom Loewy: ‘Obamacare’ ruling good news for FQHCs

MN
Workday Minnesota, Twin Cities Daily Planet

Union leaders applaud Supreme Court decision upholding Affordable Care Act

NH
Concord Monitor

Local Reactions to Health Care Decision

PA
Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News
Second (and third) opinions

Supporters across region hail Supreme Court ruling on health care overhaul
Delco News Network

Please suggest a slogan to “Name Our Campaign” for this summer activities!

Last summer’s slogan was 'Senior Summer: Protecting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.' This year's campaign kicks off in July, help us come up with the perfect name! Enter the contest here!

On July 30, 1965, LBJ signed Medicare and Medicaid into law. Now, millions more Americans and seniors can access basic health care and withstand medical emergencies. Thousands of Alliance members, seniors and allies across the country will mobilize this July 30th to celebrate Medicare and Medicaid – and to warn against drastic cuts discussed in Congress, like the Ryan budget plan, that would threaten the retirement security of future generations. Watch for new reports and materials!

In August, the anniversary of Social Security will trigger more events and actions.

Enter the contest here!

 

How Mitt Romney Celebrated His 65th Birthday

By Barbara J. Easterling

Mitt Romney recently turned 65.  He celebrated his birthday by doing what he does nearly every day – by saying something that reminds us of just how out of touch he is.

On his 65th birthday Mitt Romney said no thanks to Medicare, choosing instead to keep his own private health insurance.  Maybe if you were born into the Romney family, you would have that luxury.  But for the rest of us, Medicare is the only affordable way to see a doctor or fill a prescription.

It makes you wonder if perhaps Romney lives in such an isolated world that he thinks no one needs Medicare.  That could explain why he not only wants to repeal the health reform law’s new benefits for seniors, but would also switch much of Medicare to a privatized voucher program.  Under the Romney plan, seniors would get a small voucher to purchase coverage in the expensive, unfair private insurance market.   That’s not Medicare for seniors, that’s welfare for corporations.

When we talk with our neighbors and children and grandchildren, we must remind them that before Medicare and Social Security, people used to work until the day they died.  Many seniors lived out their final years in bad health and terrible poverty.  We have come a long way in this country, and we cannot let politicians like Mitt Romney take us back.

Social Security and Medicare are what give middle class workers hope and faith that someday, when their working days are over, they will be able to relax and enjoy a break after decades of hard work.  This is a promise America must continue to keep.

Barbara J. Easterling is president of the Alliance for Retired Americans.  She was previously the secretary-treasurer of the Communications Workers of America.