Ask the Candidates: What is your plan to protect and strengthen Medicare?

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Many Americans and Wisconsinites alike struggle to access affordable health systems in their daily lives. Medicare offers a solution to this problem, providing affordable health care for individuals 65+, plus people with disabilities. Medicare covers more than 64 million seniors across the country including 1.2 million Wisconsinites.  

Having stable, reliable health care allows seniors to live fulfilling and active lives. Medicare is critical because it is guaranteed coverage for older people and people with disabilities regardless of income or health status.

However, with the rising cost of health care, the Medicare Part A Hospital trust fund is projected to run short in the near future. We need to make responsible changes now to improve Medicare’s financial situation.

AARP will continue to advocate for protecting needed benefits, increasing quality and value, and ensuring the financial integrity of the Medicare program. AARP specifically advocates for the full coverage of an individual, including hearing, dental, and vision coverage. Regardless of one’s income or health status, they should be able to access these services.

Individuals deserve to have easy access to affordable health care systems, and Medicare guarantees these services are available. Therefore, it is vital that we protect the Medicare system so current and future beneficiaries have access to this critical coverage.  

By 2030, it is projected that there will be over 80 million new enrollees in Medicare programs. Medicare provides critical health coverage for these older Americans, so we must elect candidates that are dedicated to strengthening the program.