Protect Our Pensions

Alliance for Retired Americans Hosts 2019 Pension Seminar 

by Robert Roach, Jr.

More than two dozen speakers from unions and government agencies, as well as bankruptcy attorneys, young workers and others, shared strategies recently to address the growing pension crisis and the effects of corporate bankruptcy on millions of Americans. During the two-day event, attendees also discussed other pillars of retirement security, including Social Security and Medicare.

Multiemployer pension plans, which are collectively bargained pension plans maintained by a labor union and more than one employer, were a focus of the event. More than one million Americans who depend on multiemployer pension plans for their retirement income are at risk of losing their pension due to corporate bankruptcies that have threatened the solvency of these plans. Without Congressional action, more than 100 multiemployer pension plans in critical and declining status are likely to fail within the next 20 years, jeopardizing the retirement income of the workers and retirees. 

Highlights of the seminar included: Rep. John Larson of Connecticut spoke about steps that should be taken to protect the retirement benefits that workers have earned after a lifetime of hard work, including his legislation to expand Social Security benefits.

Also, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka spoke about the need to protect pension benefits when companies declare bankruptcy, stressing that bankruptcy laws are not designed to protect retirees who worked hard their entire lives - instead, they protect the millionaires and CEOs.

Elizabeth Shuler, Executive Vice President of the Alliance and Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO, called for passage of two pieces of legislation pending in Congress to provide immediate relief to millions of workers at risk of losing their earned pension and health benefits: the American Miners Act of 2019 and the Butch Lewis Act. We are grateful to all who participated.

Robert Roach, Jr. is president of the Alliance for Retired Americans.  He was previously General Secretary‐Treasurer of the IAMAW.  For more information, visit www.retiredamericans.org.

We Thank You Congressman Visclosky

Rep. Visclosky to Enjoy Well-Deserved Retirement 

The American steel industry is losing one of its staunchest allies in Congress at the conclusion of the current session. 

U.S. Representative Pete Visclosky (D-Ind.) announced in early November that he will not seek re-election in 2020 after serving 35 years in Congress representing the popular steel mill district of Northwest Indiana just south of Chicago. 

Visclosky was born in Gary, Indiana and has been in office since 1986, making him the longest-serving member of Indiana’s Congressional delegation. He has fought tirelessly for the betterment of the American steel industry and USW members. 

Visclosky represents Indiana’s Congressional District 1, which is the largest steel-producing district in the country. U.S. Steel’s Gary Works and ArcelorMittal’s plate mill in Burns Harbor are in Visclosky’s district and the congressman has always stood front and center during the trying times in America’s steel industry. 

Over his long Congressional career, Visclosky has represented thousands of USW members and could always be counted on to voice the concerns of our union brothers and sisters. 

Visclosky was a leader of the Congressional Steel Caucus for many years and he fought for tougher trade enforcement rules. He has been a crucial voice in combating China’s “dumping” of cheap, state- subsidized steel into the U.S. He realized that steel production was the foundation of Northwest Indiana and the foundation of our national defense and national security. 

And he fought to provide and keep the well-paying, benefit-friendly steel mill jobs in the part of Indiana known as The Region. America’s steelworkers will be hard-pressed to find another ally in Congress as effective as Visclosky. 

The Alliance for American Manufacturing wants to thank Rep. Visclosky for his stellar career in support of steelworkers and manufacturing. We hate to see you go Pete; but, enjoy your well-deserved retirement. 

Jeff Bonior is a staff writer at the Alliance for American Manufacturing 

Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3)

House Introduces Comprehensive Legislation to Lower Drug Prices

by Robert Roach, Jr.

Recently, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democratic leaders released legislation to lower prescription drug costs. The bill, called the “Lower Drug Costs Now Act” (H.R. 3), requires the federal government to negotiate lower prices and administer stiff tax penalties on pharmaceutical corporations that refuse to negotiate.

The plan authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate on behalf of the American people. Each year the secretary can negotiate for up to 250 of the most expensive drugs available through Medicare, including insulin. The prices agreed upon would be available for all insurers -- not just Medicare.

The plan caps out of pocket prescription drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries at $2,000 and limits price increases to the rate of inflation for Medicare Parts B and Part D. Currently, there is no cap.

Americans now pay the highest prices for prescription drugs in the world, and this bill will bring U.S. prices more in line with those in other industrialized countries. The House and Senate need to pass this bill and rein in the predatory practices of pharmaceutical corporations. 

Allowing Medicare to negotiate prices and capping out of pocket costs will finally provide relief to retirees and others who struggle to afford their medicine.

H.R. 3 will be a giant leap forward if passed by Congress. However, powerful pharmaceutical corporations are fighting it tooth and nail. Lawmakers need to know that their constituents want it passed quickly.

Robert Roach, Jr. is president of the Alliance for Retired Americans.  He was previously General Secretary‐Treasurer of the IAMAW.  For more information, visit www.retiredamericans.org.

Butch Lewis Act to Save Troubled Pension Plans

House Legislation on the Right Track

House Legislation Would Help Lower Prescription Drug Prices, Protect the Affordable Care Act

by Robert Roach, Jr.

House Democrats recently passed legislation to lower prescription drug costs and reverse the Administration’s attempts to undermine the Affordable Care Act (ACA). H.R. 987, the “Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act,” passed 234-183.

The prescription drug provisions have significant bipartisan support, reflecting the fact that Americans pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs. Yet only four GOP House members voted for it.

The bill would make it easier for generic drugs to enter the market. Currently, some pharmaceutical corporations purposely delay the introduction of affordable generic alternatives. For example, they make brand-name samples of their drug unavailable to generic manufacturers for testing. By removing these and other barriers, H.R. 987 can reduce drug costs for millions of Americans.

The bill also blocks some of the most harmful elements of the Administration’s ACA sabotage by making it more difficult to sell inadequate short-term insurance plans that destabilize health care exchanges. 

The legislation improves outreach to help more Americans obtain health insurance, provides funds to create more state health exchanges and reduces health care costs for people with pre-existing conditions. Twenty-five million Americans aged 50 to 64 years old have one or more pre-existing conditions.

The House leadership passed this important legislation despite resistance from powerful drug corporations. Now we must dig in and urge Senators to follow suit. We have our work cut out for us.

Robert Roach, Jr. is president of the Alliance for Retired Americans.  He was previously General Secretary‐Treasurer of the IAMAW.  For more information, visit www.retiredamericans.org.

Just do the Right Thing, already!!!

Just do the Right Thing, Already!!!

In this Connection newsletter, I wanted to share my thoughts about the Alliance for Retired Americans’ (ARA) annual congressional voting record that was released in May, which is recognized as Older Americans Month.  

The ARA has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the labor movement to assure all Americans the right to a secure and dignified retirement.   

Their report assesses votes taken between January 2018 and December 2018 that could impact the well-being of current and future retirees. (Any actions that have been taken by the newly-elected Congress in November 2018 will appear on the report that will be released by the ARA next year.)   

The ARA report shows what many Americans knew already:  that a vast majority of Congress was not looking out for the best interests of retirees. This explains why Americans voted to oust the largest number of incumbents since the Watergate scandal in 1974.  In fact:  

• Only 42% of Senators voted right on 100% of ARA-scored bills, compared to just 28% of U.S. House members; and, 
• Only 49% of Senators and 41% of U.S. House members voted right on 2/3 of the ARA-scored bills in 2018. 

All 41 of the U.S. House seats that flipped from Republican to Democratic control in the 2017 election were represented by a legislator who voted wrong on at least 50% of the bills scored by the ARA.  In fact, 12 of the 17 members who voted wrong 100% of the time were either defeated or retired in 2018.  Meanwhile, 99% of the members who voted right on all of the ARA-scored bills won reelection.      

So, if there are any members of Congress reading this who are concerned about reelection in 2020, I have one bit of advice that could go a long way...Doing right by retirees will help your chances more than you can imagine!

To see the full report, click here

Or, go to: https://retiredamericans.org/voting-record/

Julie Stein, SOAR Director

A Brighter Future for Retirees in 2019

Retirees Can Look Forward to a Brighter 2019

by Robert Roach, Jr.

In a sure sign that things may be looking up for retirees, new leadership is about to take control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

In rejecting Senator Mitch McConnell’s mid-October pledge to cut Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security to pay for the deficit created by last year’s tax cuts for the wealthy, voters sent a clear signal that voters are against cuts to these critical programs.

Democrats also captured governorships in seven formerly Republican-held states and more than 300 Republican-held legislative seats across the country. This will be important when congressional districts are redrawn following the 2020 census. In addition, Idaho, Utah and Nebraska voted to expand Medicaid, increasing access to affordable health care for over 320,000 Americans.

This past year we survived attempts to decimate the Affordable Care Act and take away protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions. We also withstood the stated intention of several elected leaders and their top lieutenants to go after our hard-earned Social Security and Medicare benefits.

Now we must go on the offensive. We must press Congress to bring drug prices down and make health care more accessible and affordable. As our leaders strive to expand Social Security, we must strengthen and protect our existing benefits so that the burden of saving for retirement isn’t so cumbersome.

If we continue to speak truth to power we can carve a better path for current and future retirees.

Robert Roach, Jr. is president of the Alliance for Retired Americans.  He was previously General Secretary‐Treasurer of the IAMAW.  For more information, visit www.retiredamericans.org.

Let’s Not Have Any More Paul Ryans Keeping Us from a Secure Retirement

House Speaker Paul Ryan has announced that he will retire at the end of his term. His decision to remain in the position until January 2019, means that he will be eligible for his annual Federal Employees Retirement System pension of $84,930 in two years, once he reaches age 50. 

At that time, he will join the 23 percent of all American workers who have a defined-benefit pension plan. 

Ryan’s pension ensures that he will be financially secure in retirement. But, he cares little about the millions of Americans who are not as fortunate. 

The vast majority of retirees rely heavily on their Social Security benefits, averaging $15,983 annually in 2015, to stay out of poverty. And, of course, Paul Ryan consistently fought for “entitlement reform,” which would mean an even less secure retirement for millions of Americans by deeply cutting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Instead of helping working families achieve retirement security, he sought to privatize and slash the earned benefit programs we rely on. 

We must not let this Congress or the next Congress further attempts to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. In fact, we should be expanding these programs. We can advance our agenda by supporting candidates who truly understand the challenges facing working people and who will fight to help us.

If we all stand together this November, we can send a strong message to politicians who protect their own retirement security, but threaten ours. 

Robert Roacch, Jr.

Robert Roach, Jr. is president of the Alliance for Retired Americans.  He was previously General Secretary‐Treasurer of the IAMAW.  For more information, visit www.retiredamericans.org.

Retirees and Next Generation Unite

Republicans Relentless With ACA Repeal Attempts

Republicans Relentless with ACA Repeal Attempts

by Robert Roach, Jr.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell planned to hold a vote on the Graham-Cassidy bill in late September. Introduced by Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), the legislation was the GOP’s latest attempt at repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

This attack on the ACA was more serious than the previous tries. It included an age tax on older Americans that would have allowed insurers to charge older people five times more for the same coverage. It eliminated protections for people with pre-existing conditions and took away the tax credits allowing middle-income Americans to afford coverage. 

It also would have changed Medicaid to a system of block grants to states, eliminating insurance for the most vulnerable.

While this round of attempts at repeal failed, the many affected groups are not out of the woods. 

Officials with the conservative Koch brothers’ organization have said that they plan to make up to $400 million available in the midterm elections for policy and politics, but they are demanding results in return.

The Koch brothers warned Congress in June that time is running out to push their agenda, including health care reform. Tim Phillips, who heads the Koch network’s political arm, Americans for Prosperity, said that his forces have until about next June to accomplish their goals, before the 2018 elections grind their efforts to a halt.
Fortunately, phone calls by activists to Senators and Governors have worked before to stop their perverse attempts, and they can work again. They may have to.

Robert Roach, Jr. is president of the Alliance for Retired Americans. He was previously General Secretary‐Treasurer of the IAMAW.  For more information, visit www.retiredamericans.org.

Report From The Alliance For American Manufacturing (AAM)

Report from the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM)

President Trump and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross launched a rarely used Section 232 investigation in April to determine if the effects of steel and aluminum imports pose a threat to these American industries and the to the national security of the United States. Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to conduct these comprehensive investigations.

Public hearings were held at the Commerce Department in May and June and the administration set a self-imposed deadline of June 30 to release the findings and potential retaliatory actions by the United States against China and other foreign nations who are dumping their excess products into the U.S., weakening industries that protect America’s national security.

Despite Ross’ promise to act quickly on these top-priority matters, it is now October and the Trump administration has failed to address this problem. American steel and aluminum workers continue to lose their jobs and the U.S. is at further risk during a possible military confrontation, if we no longer have the capabilities to ramp up our armaments without depending on foreign-made steel and aluminum.

A group of more than 60 United Steelworkers from around the country descended upon Washington, D.C. during the week of September 18 to visit Senators and their staffs to continually stress the importance of an immediate solution. Just two days after Ross met via phone with steelworkers, he stated the delayed Section 232 will not be released until Congress deals with tax reform. 

And Trump had earlier said Section 232 would not be made public until after tax reform and infrastructure.

Our USW brothers and sisters can’t afford to wait.

During his presidential campaign, Trump came to the Mon Valley of Southwestern Pennsylvania, once the steelmaking capital of the world, and proclaimed “it will be American steel that sends our skyscrapers soaring, soaring into the sky, beautiful sight, more beautiful with American steel. We are going to put American steel and aluminum back into the backbone of the country,”

It is now nine months into his presidency and Trump appears spineless in matters of the steel industry.

Please contact your representatives in Congress and let them know America’s national security and the jobs it provides comes first and foremost. Taxes and infrastructure will take years to resolve, during which time America may become unable to defend itself.

Contact your U.S. Representatives at their district offices or call the Capitol switchboard in Washington, D.C. (202) 224-3121 where your call will be directed to their Capitol office staff.

Jeff Bonior is a staff writer for the Alliance for American Manufacturing

Senate Screws Retirees

Let's Celebrate Medicare's BD of 52 Years By Protecting It

Let’s Celebrate Medicare’s Birthday of 52 Years By Protecting It

On July 30th the Medicare program celebrated its 52nd birthday as a cornerstone of retirement security in America.

When President Johnson signed Medicare and Medicaid into law in 1965, growing older often meant poverty and illness. Only half of our nation’s seniors had health insurance. While many retirees received health coverage through unions, the millions of seniors paying out of pocket faced premiums as much as three times what younger workers paid. Insurance was seen as a luxury that many seniors simply couldn’t afford.

For millions of uninsured seniors, an illness could mean being thrust into poverty or going without treatment altogether. Around one in three seniors lived out their older years in poverty, and many were forced to lean on friends and family to provide care and financial support during times of illness.

Today, Medicare and Medicaid find themselves under attack. Politicians in Washington like House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price and President Donald Trump are pushing to dismantle the Medicare program and roll back the clock. The support and passage of the American Health Care Act (Trumpcare) in the House, an opening attack, would decimate Medicaid and raid three years of solvency from the Medicare trust fund.

This summer, the Alliance for Retired Americans, along with affiliates, is celebrating Medicare’s 52nd birthday with grassroots events all across the country. Please join us in celebrating Medicare’s track record of success, and together we will work to make sure it’s around for 52 more.

Robert Roach, Jr. is president of the Alliance for Retired Americans.  He was previously General Secretary‐Treasurer of the IAMAW.  For more information, visit www.retiredamericans.org.

Trump To Cut Social Security

Trump’s Promise Not to Cut Social Security has been Broken

by Robert Roach, Jr.

President Trump’s fiscal 2018 budget is a non-starter. He has betrayed America’s seniors. In fact, $2 trillion in deficit reduction turns out to be just a math error.

The budget cuts $72 billion over ten years from disability programs, including Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Trump promised repeatedly to protect – not cut – Social Security. Yet his first budget does just that, harming millions of disabled Americans. 

The Trump budget also slashes $1.4 trillion from Medicaid over 10 years. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), total Medicaid spending was $368 billion in 2016. Almost two-thirds of that was for seniors and people with disabilities, who rely on Medicaid for health care and long-term care. This cut is drastic and dangerous by any measurement.

This budget also decimates the Community Development Block Grant, which provides funding through states and communities for Meals on Wheels.

Trump’s proposal would cut the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by more than 25%, taking away benefits from those who need basic nutrition.

This budget provides massive tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans and corporations on the backs of retirees, children, people with disabilities and current and future federal workers, whose earned pension benefits are cut. The Trump budget is a reckless mixture of twisted values and brazen dishonesty.

With 10,000 Americans turning 65 every day, this is not the policy we need. Alliance for Retired Americans members are mobilized to ensure it never advances.

Robert Roach, Jr. is president of the Alliance for Retired Americans.  He was previously General Secretary‐Treasurer of the IAMAW.  For more information, visit www.retiredamericans.org.

Earned Social Security Benefits

President Obama Proposes Expanding Earned Social Security Benefits 

Congress Should Act to Help Seniors 

Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, released the following statement regarding President Obama’s proposal today to expand Social Security:

“The Alliance for Retired Americans welcomes President Obama's statement in favor of expanding earned Social Security benefits.

“At a high school in Elkhart, Indiana today the President said ‘...it's time we finally made Social Security more generous and increased its benefits so today's retirees and future generations get the dignified retirement that they have earned.’

“The Alliance advocated the expansion of Social Security benefits for years and we are pleased that the President agrees with us. Forty percent of Americans over the age of 50 say that Social Security will be their primary source of retirement income, and the current level of benefits is not keeping pace. It’s time for Congress to pass one of the many bills that has already been introduced to make a more secure retirement for current and future retirees.”

Alliance for Retired Americans

Hillary Clinton Supports Letting People Over 50 Buy into Medicare

At a recent campaign stop in Virginia, Hillary Clinton announced a proposal that would let people over the age of 50 buy into Medicare.

Secretary Clinton’s proposal would benefit older adults and employers, who pay the majority of health insurance costs for workers in the 50 age category. Given that many areas of the United States are severely limited in the number of health insurance plans available to them, this would provide another option. An added benefit: since Medicare is more efficient at keeping healthcare costs down, including adults under 65, would help slow the growth of overall healthcare expenditures.

The new proposal will build on what the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has achieved so far, making up for the lack of a public option from the ACA.

“While the Affordable Care Act has helped many Americans obtain health insurance coverage for the first time, rising costs are still a major concern,” said Robert Roach, Jr., President of the Alliance. “We need a president with realistic and specific solutions.”

Source: Alliance for Retired Americans Friday Alert, May 20, 2016 

Medicare Should Include Dental Benefits

Oral Health America: Medicare Should Include Dental Benefits

On Thursday, Oral Health America (OHA) released a state-by-state report of the oral health of the country's 65 and older population and the success or failure of states to address those needs. The 2016 State of Decay is the 3rd in a series of reports from OHA surveying the state of oral health for older Americans. The report shows that 59 percent of lower income older adults have no dental insurance and that older adults with dental insurance are 2.5 times more likely to visit the dentist on a regular basis. Sadly, 58 percent of lower income older adults have no plan in place to pay for dental care once retired.

The Alliance and OHA both advocate for financially viable Medicare Dental Benefits.

“Fifty-two percent of all older adults are either unsure or don’t know Medicare does not include dental coverage,” said Joseph Peters, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance. “We need to increase awareness so that we can expand Medicare to address this.”

Source: Alliance for Retired Americans Friday Alert, May 20 2016 issue

Alliance for Retired Americans Friday Alert 8-29-14

Headlines:
This Labor Day, Let's Raise America's Pay – It Will Help with Retirement Savings
No Surprise: Between 2000 and 2011, the Wealth Gap Widened
“Star” Rating System Fails to Protect Many Seniors in Nursing Homes
AP: GOP Sees Health Care Law’s Advantages More and More
Paul Ryan Hears More from Seniors about his Medicare Cuts during Book Tour
Fiesta Addresses Machinist Retirees, Celebrates Social Security in Rhode Island

This Labor Day, Let's Raise America's Pay – It Will Help with Retirement Saving The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) addresses extremely slow wage growth just in time for Labor Day. Available at http://tinyurl.com/l4duxgm, EPI’s paper shows that wages for most Americans were flat or fell in the first half of 2014, compared to this time last year. The study’s author, Elise Gould, says that wages even fell for top wage earners and those with a college degree. The bottom 10 percent’s wages increased by 2 cents an hour, thanks to state-level minimum wage increases. Use EPI’s calculator to see how much people would make if their wages were to continue growing with productivity, as they did in the past: http://tinyurl.com/p4pkktf. To see the video, “The one obvious way to fix inequality that no one is talking about,” go to http://tinyurl.com/opdbk67.  “The impact of stagnant wages is more than just an issue for those currently working,” said Barbara J. Easterling, President of the Alliance. “The problems increase at retirement, when seniors rely on what they’ve been able to save, as well as the Social Security benefits that are determined by wages earned while working. Income security now equals retirement security later.” No Surprise: Between 2000 and 2011, the Wealth Gap Widened New statistics from the Census Bureau show that the gap between rich and poor households only continues to rise. Between 2000 and 2011, net worth increased for the top 40% while declining for the bottom 60% of Americans. The gap has also increased according to demographic breakdowns, including race. For instance, African-Americans saw their overall median net worth decrease by $3,746 (or 37.2%) between 2000 and 2011. According to the Census report, “Distribution of Household Wealth in the U.S.: 2000 to 2011,” (http://tinyurl.com/p78jhs2), median household net worth decreased by $5,124 for households in the first (bottom) net worth quintile and increased by $61,379 (or 10.8%) for those in the highest (top) quintile between 2000 and 2011. Each quintile represents 20%, or one-fifth, of all households. “Star” Rating System Fails to Protect Many Seniors in Nursing Homes In order to provide better information regarding the quality of nursing homes, Medicare has embarked on a five year process to rate every facility on a five star system - comparable to a hotel rating system. However, of the data that factor into the rating, only the results of an annual health inspection are done by an independent entity and reviewed by the government. The other two criteria, staff levels and quality, are self-reported and are not usually investigated. This creates an inherent risk of inconsistencies in the system. A report by The New York Times found that “many…top-ranked nursing homes have been given a seal of approval that is based on incomplete information and that can seriously mislead consumers, investors and others about conditions at the homes.” “We would like to see improvements to the rating system, such as decreased self-reporting and iHi, ncreased verification of responses,” said Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance. The complete article can be found here: http://nyti.ms/1zpP8dw. AP: GOP Sees Health Care Law’s Advantages More and More President Obama’s health care law is less of a political target, as vulnerable Democrats increasingly embrace it on the campaign trail and Republicans talk more about fixing it instead of repealing it. Two-term Arkansas Sen. Mark Pryor (D), who is in one of the most competitive races in the country, says in an ad this week that he voted for a law that prevents insurers from canceling policies if someone gets sick, as he was 18 years ago when he was diagnosed with cancer. According to the Associated Press (http://tinyurl.com/pjhuewy), “House Republicans have voted some 50 times to repeal, change or scrap the law, and the GOP is betting Americans' opposition will be a great motivator in November's midterm elections.” The Obama administration and many health care policy experts maintain that the law is accomplishing its main goal - providing health care coverage to millions of Americans who lack it, with 8 million enrolled. The law also closes the doughnut hole gap in Medicare prescription drug coverage for seniors and provides seniors with free preventive care for many conditions, cutting Medicare’s costs. Robert Blendon, a public opinion analyst at the Harvard School of Public Health, says that the law is incredibly popular with “Democrats or more moderate independents” and that Sen. Pryor’s embracing of the law sends a message to Democrats that a law they like could disappear if he loses his seat. Campaign ads have also reflected less use of health care as an issue. Commercials from candidates and the party organizations themselves have focused on veterans, bipartisanship and attendance at committee hearings, while Republican-leaning outside groups such as Americans for Prosperity still use many of their ads to hit Democrats for backing the health care law. In July, Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN), described exchanges where individuals could shop for coverage as a step in the right direction and told reporters that "there are some things I feel could be built on.” Paul Ryan Hears More from Seniors about his Medicare Cuts during Book Tour Last week, seniors with the Pennsylvania Alliance picketed outside House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan’s speaking engagement and book tour stop in Philadelphia. This week, seniors and other critics of Rep. Ryan’s budget made their feelings known to him in Florida. For a photo of Florida Alliance Recording Secretary Barbara DeVane telling Rep. Ryan her point of view about Medicare in Tallahassee, go to http://tinyurl.com/knjk5jx. For a video of Rep. Ryan saying falsely that he does not plan to cut Medicare, go to http://tinyurl.com/mvuqxaj. “The video catches Paul Ryan lying,” said Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance. “Medicare cuts are a cornerstone of the Ryan budget plan. He wants to use vouchers to transfer costs to seniors, and he wants to raise the Medicare eligibility age to 67, for starters.” Fiesta Addresses Machinist Retirees, Celebrates Social Security in Rhode Island Mr. Fiesta was in Placid Harbor, Maryland on Monday at the Machinists Union Retirees Assistance Program. On Friday, he is in Providence, Rhode Island for a Social Security birthday celebration with Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse and Jack Reed; Reps. Jim Langevin and David Cicilline; George Nee, President of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO; and Rhode Island Alliance members.

For a printable version of this document, go to http://tinyurl.com/l8eqg4h. For the Alliance's Spanish language page, which includes last week's Friday Alert in Spanish, go to www.alianzadejubilados.org

Alliance for Retired Americans Friday Alert 8-22-14

Headlines:
Alliance Members Continue Social Security Birthday Celebrations
Alliance Protest Targets Paul Ryan’s Book Tour
Sen. Schumer Introduces Bill to Stop Social Security Office Closures
Stand Up Against Social Security Service Cuts
Sunday Marks 50th Anniversary of Seniors’ Rally for Creation of Medicare Program
Unexpectedly High Medical Bills Often the Result of a Few Common Issues
Fiesta Attends DNC Seniors Council Meeting in Georgia

Alliance Members Continue Social Security Birthday Celebrations
With Social Security celebrating its 79th birthday last week, Alliance members have been holding events across the country honoring the landmark retirement security program. This week’s events included celebrations with cake and balloons in states such as Iowa, Missouri, New York, and Pennsylvania. To view the latest photos from Social Security birthday celebrations, go to http://bit.ly/1tpnf4H.

The North Carolina Alliance hosted a birthday celebration in Charlotte, where members released a report from Alliance partner Social Security Works examining the Social Security system’s importance in the state. The local NBC-TV affiliate, WCNC, covered the event and interviewed North Carolina Alliance President Jim Moore. To view the clip, go to http://bit.ly/1ljAiVf. To see the report for North Carolina and other states, go to http://tinyurl.com/pt4ru5z.

Alliance Protest Targets Paul Ryan’s Book Tour
On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Alliance held a protest in Philadelphia, as Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) rolled into town on the first stop of a national tour promoting his new book. The protestors assembled outside Ryan’s event, a speaking engagement at the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia, and carried signs drawing attention to the House Budget Committee Chairman’s proposals to fast-track cuts to Social Security and turn Medicare into a voucher system.

Alliance member and AFSCME Retiree Dorothea Wilson, who picketed, responded to Ryan’s visit, saying, “For us retirees, he’s done everything he could to mess with our Medicare, our Medicaid, and Social Security. He doesn’t seem to think that older citizens need anything. Everything we have, he wants to take away from us.” To read more on the protests from the Philadelphia Daily News, go to http://bit.ly/1wdAHwX. For photos of the protestors in action, go to http://bit.ly/1mq7aqb.

“The Paul Ryan budget would not only end Medicare as we know it by turning it into a voucher program, but also raise the Medicare eligibility age to 67. In addition, it would gut Medicaid and provide a windfall for millionaires,” said Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance.

Sen. Schumer Introduces Bill to Stop Social Security Office Closures
Since 2010, more than 80 Social Security field offices and more than 500 temporary mobile offices have been shut down – the largest reduction in Social Security field offices in the program’s history. These closings come as the Baby Boomer generation hits retirement age and demand for services is skyrocketing. In response to the closings, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has introduced a new bill, the Improving Access to Social Security Services Act (S.2742), which would require all future Social Security offices closures to go through a period of public review before any action is taken. Communities would have the opportunity to evaluate the impact of any proposed closures and to stand up for their local field offices before they are shut down.

“Social Security field offices are a critical part of ensuring that retirees and other beneficiaries have access to the full benefits they have earned,” said Barbara J. Easterling, President of the Alliance.

Stand Up Against Social Security Service Cuts
This week, as a part of the push to cut face-to-face services and move Social Security to an online service model, the Social Security Administration (SSA) kicked off a campaign to encourage beneficiaries to sign up on their mySocialSecurity website. With nearly 17 million seniors without regular internet access and 43 million annual visitors to Social Security field offices, a coalition of groups, including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the Alliance, is looking to spread the word that high-quality, face to face services simply can’t be replaced with an online alternative. To get involved, connect with the Alliance on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/1z87m3e and Twitter at http://bit.ly/1q39O9a, and share posts opposing in-person service cuts with your friends.

Sunday Marks 50th Anniversary of Seniors’ Rally for Creation of Medicare Program
This Sunday, August 24, will mark the 50th anniversary of a historic rally for Medicare held on the boardwalk outside of the 1964 Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The rally, organized by the National Council of Senior Citizens, took place on August 24, 1964. During the event, 14,000 seniors marched 10 blocks down the Atlantic City boardwalk to the convention hotel, calling on Congress to pass legislation providing universal health coverage for older Americans. Less than a year later, on July 30th, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Medicare into law.

“The boardwalk rally is a fantastic example of seniors joining together to spur Congress to action. Today, we can use that same spirit to fight to expand Social Security and protect Medicare from threats like Rep. Ryan’s budget plan,” said Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance.

Unexpectedly High Medical Bills Often the Result of a Few Common Issues
Medical billing can be a complicated process, and when insurance companies fail to cover the full cost of services, patients often find themselves on the hook for more money than they expected. According to a recent article in USA Today, there are a number of reasons why an insurance company might not cover the full cost of a bill.

Common reasons include an error on the part of an insurance company; a doctor being considered “out of network”; and an insurance company missing information following a claim filing. Experts recommend asking plenty of questions ahead of time, documenting all contact with an insurance company, and making sure to follow up if a bill seems higher than it should be. For more on what to look out for, and tips on avoiding unexpectedly high medical bills, go to http://usat.ly/VI24OI.

Fiesta Attends DNC Seniors Council Meeting in Georgia
Mr. Fiesta traveled to Atlanta to speak at the Democratic National Committee Seniors Council Meeting on Thursday.

For a printable version of this document, go to http://bit.ly/1mv0Pde.

For the Alliance's Spanish language page, which includes last week's Friday Alert in Spanish, go to www.alianzadejubilados.org

Alliance for Retired Americans Friday Alert 8-15-14

Headlines:
Alliance Members Honor 79th Birthday of Social Security
Reports Detail Critical Importance of Social Security
Great Recession May Have Forced Americans into Retirement
Medicare Advantage Insurers Systematically Overbilling Government
States Refusing Medicaid Expansion Losing Billions in Funding
President Obama Signs VA Reform Bill into Law

Alliance Members Honor 79th Birthday of Social Security
Our nation’s Social Security system celebrated its 79th anniversary on Thursday, and Alliance members commemorated the important event by throwing more than 30 birthday parties across the country with cake and balloons. Celebrations focused on the long term success of the Social Security system and the need to expand the program in order to meet the needs of current and future retirees. The landmark program was signed into law by Franklin D. Roosevelt on August 14th, 1935. “Social Security is one of the most successful programs in America’s history,” said Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance. “With pensions disappearing, it’s harder than ever for workers to save for retirement. We need to strengthen and expand Social Security, not cut it.”

Several celebrations featured members of Congress with track records of working to protect and defend Social Security, including Reps. Raúl Grijalva (AZ), Patrick Murphy (FL), Cheri Bustos (IL), Marc Veasey (TX), Nick Rahall (WV), and Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (NH). Mr. Fiesta spoke at the Shaheen event in Manchester, New Hampshire. Both he and Alliance President Barbara J. Easterling spoke at the Rahall event in Beckley, WV. To view a sampling of pictures from the birthday events, go to http://tinyurl.com/pb6n36w. To mark Social Security’s birthday and pledge to redouble efforts to strengthen and expand the program, sign a birthday card to Social Security at http://bit.ly/1lYsDq6.

Reports Detail Critical Importance of Social Security
In honor of Social Security’s anniversary, the Alliance released a series of reports assembled by coalition partner Social Security Works that examine the critical role Social Security plays in states across the country. The reports, available at http://bit.ly/1t3TDJR, provide background information on the Social Security System as well as details about the vital role Social Security serves in the lives of individuals and families in each state. The reports also highlight the economic impact of Social Security benefits, with data carefully broken down by demographic category.

“Our Social Security system is the foundation of retirement security in this country and keeps nearly 22 million Americans out of poverty,” said Ms. Easterling. “Almost 65% of elderly couples and unmarried beneficiaries relied on Social Security for half or more of their income in 2012.”

Great Recession May Have Forced Americans into Retirement
New data from the Federal Reserve suggests that since 2008, a significant number of Americans have been retiring earlier than they expected. This trend comes despite polling suggesting that an increasing number of workers approaching retirement age intend to delay retirement and stay on the job longer in order to make ends meet. The conflicting data suggests that thousands of older workers who lost jobs in the Great Recession may have simply retired instead of continuing to look for work or settle for low paying jobs. Coupled with recent polling in which nearly 1 in 5 workers between the ages of 55 and 64 said they had nothing saved for retirement, the new Fed data points to an increasingly difficult environment for American retirees. Read more on the Great Recession’s impact on retirement at http://ti.me/1sYuYpc.

Medicare Advantage Insurers Systematically Overbilling Government
According to a study from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Medicare Advantage health plans have been overbilling the government by exaggerating how sick patients are and how much these patients cost to treat. Under the program, Medicare pays private insurance (Advantage) plans higher rates for covering sicker patients, with rates tied to “risk scores” based on patient medical histories. According to HHS officials, insurers have been exaggerating the rates of certain medical conditions in order to artificially raise these scores and inflate Medicare payments. The Medicare Advantage program currently insures around 16 million older and disabled Americans.

The HHS study follows a previous report in June that revealed $70 billion in “improper” payments made to Medicare Advantage plans between 2008 and 2013 – primarily a result of overbillings. For more information, read the article from the Center for Public Integrity at http://bit.ly/1paYCI6.

States Refusing Medicaid Expansion Losing Billions in Funding
According to a new report, the 24 states that have refused to expand the Medicaid program under the terms of the Affordable Care Act may be missing out on a staggering amount of federal dollars. A recent report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Urban Institute suggests that over the next 10 years, these states will lose a total of $423.6 billion in potential federal funding, along with $167.8 billion in increased hospital reimbursement payments. The Medicaid expansion is fully funded by the federal government for the first three years of the program, with states picking up 10% of the tab after that.

Some politicians opposed to the expansion have argued that taking on the task would be a drain on state finances. The study suggests that while it would cost non-expansion states around $31 billion to participate, associated cost savings and enhanced tax revenues resulting from federal financed hospital spending will actually lead to improved finances for state budgets. “Millions of American workers and their families are being denied health coverage under the false claim that these states can’t afford to expand Medicaid. By refusing to expand the program, all these politicians are doing is hurting their constituents and their state economies,” said Ruben Burks, Secretary Treasurer for the Alliance. Read more on the Medicaid studies at http://slate.me/1pur9Zq.

President Obama Signs VA Reform Bill into Law
Late last week, President Obama signed into law a $16.3 billion overhaul of our nation’s Veterans Affairs (VA) health system. Thousands of veterans who have faced extended waits for medical care at VA facilities are now almost immediately eligible to seek government funded treatment from private physicians. Implementing other changes, including the expansion of VA staff through the hiring of thousands of health care providers, and the opening of 27 new VA clinics across the country, is expected to take at least 2 years. The new law also includes new rules making it easier to fire senior VA officials for poor performance. The reforms come in response to revelations of long wait times at VA facilities and attempts by administrators to cover up the problems. To read more on the law from the The Washington Post, go to http://wapo.st/1nTFLg2.

For a printable version of this document, go to http://bit.ly/1uBIBi1.

For the Alliance's Spanish language page, which includes last week's Friday Alert in Spanish, go to www.alianzadejubilados.org