Medicare & Social Security

Protecting Medicare and Social Security for current beneficiaries and saving it for future generations is one of my most important responsibilities as your Representative in Congress. The report released in April by the Medicare and Social Security Trustees showed that Social Security will go broke in 2033, three years earlier than previously expected. The report also showed the Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund will go broke in 2024. Clearly, the days of burying our heads in the sand and pretending the status quo is acceptable must end.

We must enact long term solutions to protect Medicare and Social Security for current and future beneficiaries in a way that does not impact anyone at or near retirement or eligibility age, which is exactly what is called for in the House-approved budget. Remember, the Democrat-controlled Senate has not even bothered to pass a budget in over three years.

Below is a letter I sent to constituents on these issues:

Medicare and Social Security Letter

Protecting Medicare and Social Security for current beneficiaries and saving it for future generations is one of my most important responsibilities as your Congressman.  That is why I voted, along with my Republican colleagues in the House, for a plan that would guarantee that nobody over the age of 55 would see any changes at all in their benefits.  People in or near retirement have been making plans based on promises made by the government and taxes they paid their entire working lives.  I will honor the commitments made to our seniors.

With 10,000 Baby Boomers reaching retirement age every day, changes must be made for future retirees, or Medicare and Social Security will go broke.  We must improve and strengthen these programs for future generations.  Starting in 2022, our plan would allow new Medicare enrollees to choose from a list of guaranteed options a plan that best suits their needs.  Lower income seniors and those with more health care needs would get additional support.  This change would allow for more personal control of health care decisions. I believe this is a good thing because it would help lower costs by forcing insurers to compete for customers and put patients and doctors in control of health care decisions, not government bureaucrats and insurance company accountants. 

In light of the Social Security Trustees Report showing the program going broke in 2033 if nothing is done, the days for burying our heads in the sand and pretending the status quo is sustainable are over.  Our plan calls for no changes in Social Security benefits for anybody age 55 and older, while studying adjustment options for future retirees, such as gradually increasing the retirement age or means testing benefits. 

The approach taken by President Obama and Democrats in Congress could not be more different.  As part of the President’s health care law, Medicare will be cut by $500 billion over the next 10 years. Furthermore, their plan to control health care costs is to empower a board of 15 unaccountable, unelected bureaucrats known as the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), to deny health care coverage to seniors.  The creation of IPAB ceded oversight authority for Medicare from Congress, and I am greatly concerned that this board has been given far too much power over what benefits will be covered, resulting in rationed care.  In March of this year, the House passed a bill, H.R. 5, which I cosponsored, that would repeal IPAB.

This July, I voted for H.R. 6079, the Repeal of Obamacare Act, which would get rid of the entire law, including the Medicare cuts and IPAB.  On a recent TeleTown Hall, I asked constituents whether they supported repeal and out of 3,400 votes, 74% said they did.  Sadly, the Democrat-controlled Senate refuses to pass H.R. 6079 and President Obama is on the record completely opposed to repeal. 

Thank you for allowing me to share this information with you. Enclosed you will find a reply card should you want to give me your thoughts on Medicare and Social Security. You can also visit a special page on my website, www.nunnelee.house.gov/medicareto submit your thoughts electronically.  Please keep me informed of the issues important to you and your family, as your input allows me to better serve you in Congress.