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Legislative Agenda 2009-2010
Older Americans in 2009 face challenges on
several fronts. Health care costs
continue to rise dramatically and outpace
general inflation. Seniors increasingly
use more of their income for out of pocket
health care costs. In addition, the
economic downturn, which began in 2008,
threatens seniors' financial security.
Social services, on which millions rely for
basic needs, are severely strained. Basic
energy and food costs have risen
dramatically. This all has come at a time
when the oldest members of the Baby Boom
generation are beginning to retiree in large
numbers, the start of a wave of retirements
that will nearly double the number of older
Americans. The need for health care services,
long-term care, economic security, and housing
will grow increasingly urgent as the American
population ages.
Current and future
retirees, and their families, will need strong
Social Security and Medicare systems, access to
affordable long-term care, and strong pension
systems in order to attain a comfortable
quality of life. However, structural
changes to the Medicare program and attempts to
cut Social Security benefits, as well as
current tax policy, which is skewed toward the
wealthiest Americans, represent major threats
to the security of today's and tomorrow's
retirees.
The 2008 elections have given
the nation a great opportunity to fundamentally
change how
Americans pay for and receive
their health care. The country today has a
once-in-a
generation opportunity to create
lasting, positive change.
The Alliance
for Retired Americans believes that thoughtful
and effective legislative policies enacted in
the 111th Congress will protect and enhance the
quality of life for America's retirees for
years to come.