Advocacy

For the first time since AARP began publishing the Scorecard in 2011, more than half of Medicaid long-term care dollars nationwide for older adults and people with physical disabilities went to home- and community-based services instead of nursing homes and other institutions.

November is National Family Caregivers Month, which seeks to shine a bright light on the more than 48 million American heroes, including 530,000 here in Minnesota, helping care for their loved ones independently at home – where they want to be.

AARP Minnesota is working to ensure more Minnesotans—especially those 50 and older—can harness the power of broadband. It’s vital for everything from entertainment to accessing reliable information.

Fighting for Minnesotans 50-plus and Their Families

AARP research attaches $10 billion value to the estimated 5 million hours of unpaid care that family caregivers provided in 2021. 

AARP has long advocated for Social Security tax relief. While we have appreciated past legislative actions that have provided some state relief for beneficiaries, the fact remains that more retirees are paying taxes on their benefits. With a historic $17.6 billion surplus, it’s time to stop taxing these hard-earned benefits.  

The expectation of a comfortable retirement is no longer a reality for far too many Americans, especially those who work for small businesses. Minnesota is part of a national movement seeking to reverse this trend. AARP Minnesota is calling on lawmakers to pass the MN Secure Choice Retirement Program (HF 782; Becker-Finn /SF 413; Pappas), which allows workers to set aside wages through an easily accessible savings program.

AARP Minnesota commends Governor Walz on the proposed One Minnesota budget that includes measures that will support older adults and their family caregivers to address our state’s rapidly aging demographic. However, AARP is disappointed the Governor’s budget doesn’t provide more Social Security tax relief for Minnesota retirees.

AARP in Minnesota has called on lawmakers to pass a Paid Family and Medical Leave program, which would provide up to 12 weeks of paid leave to care for a seriously ill family member or a worker’s own serious health condition. The Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (HF2; Richardson/SF2; Mann) would allow working family caregivers in Minnesota to take time off from their paid jobs without the fear of losing their paycheck.

AARP Minnesota urges lawmakers to pass legislation aimed at curbing high drug prices that drive up insurance premiums and government spending on Medicare and Medicaid which increase costs for all Americans.