Protecting
Social Security and Medicare
“I
believe in using the budget surplus to preserve Social Security and expand
Medicare coverage. Some would
rather waste the money on a tax break for the wealthy. But that's hardly conservative, that's irresponsible.”
-Maryanne Connelly
Protect
Social Security First.
Projected to become insolvent by 2034, Social Security is the
principal source of retirement income for two-thirds of the elderly in this
country. Last
year it lifted roughly 15 million senior citizens out of poverty.
In fact, the poverty rate for senior citizens was 10.5 percent in
1998 – the lowest on record..
Maryanne Connelly will make sure that the budget surplus is
used to strengthen Social Security, not give a tax break to the super
wealthy.
Strengthen
Medicare’s Financing.
Just like Social Security, the Medicare program will be dramatically
affected by the retirement of the baby boom generation.
The elderly population is expected to double from almost 40 million
today to 80 million over the next thirty years.
Maryanne
Connelly will work to save a portion of the non-Social Security surplus for
strengthening the financing of Medicare and ensuring its long-term
viability.
Improve
Access to Prescription Drugs for Seniors.
When Medicare was first established in 1965, prescription drug
coverage was not included in the plan, nor was it included in most private
coverage plans.
However, over time, private plans have added prescription drug
coverage, while Medicare has not.
Seniors are finding it harder and more expensive to get access to the
life-saving prescription drugs they need.
Maryanne Connelly supports allowing seniors to use their Medicare for
prescription drug coverage and requiring pharmaceutical companies to offer
prescription drugs to seniors at the same discount rates they offer the big
insurance companies.
Download this position paper in Word for Windows for friends and family without Internet access. |