President Obama’s 2014 budget proposal includes a plan to change the way Social Security cost-of-living adjustments, or COLAs, are calculated by adopting the “chained” consumer price index (CPI).  The National Committee has been vocal in its opposition to the chained CPI because it does not accurately measure the purchasing patterns of our elderly population.  We urge the adoption of a CPI for the elderly, or CPI-E, as a more accurate means of calculating Social Security COLAs.  An in-depth examination of the CPI-E follows.

Medicare beneficiaries already have high out-of-pocket costs, and because over half of beneficiaries are living on incomes of $22,500 or less, they cannot afford to pay more.  Premiums and cost sharing for Medicare Parts B and D already consume 26 percent of the average Social Security check.

After 42 years as an educator, Sam Burnett of Toledo keeps right on teaching. As a 10 year volunteer with the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, he’s showing seniors how and why their Social Security and Medicare benefits could be in jeopardy. That’s why the National Committee salutes Sam’s remarkable life of service as he is inducted into the Ohio Seniors Hall of Fame at the state capital in Columbus on May 24, 2013 at 1pm.

Contrary to the headlines and soundbites coming from America’s newsrooms, Social Security and Medicare aren’t to blame for our nation’s fiscal woes or our deficit.  In fact, without these vital programs our economy would be in even worse shape and millions more American families would be threatened with economic insecurity.

The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare’s President/CEO, Max Richtman, will join Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), the Defending Social Security Caucus, the Alliance for Retired Americans, and the Strengthen Social Security Campaign in hosting a May 8^th summit to protect Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans’ benefits.

The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare’s has released its analysis, “Immigration Reform and Social Security” detailing why, contrary to claims made by immigration reform opponents, reform is not a threat to Social Security’s funding.

It is estimated that there are about 11 million undocumented workers in the United States today. These immigrants come to our country to work. They contribute to the economic health of our nation. They also make substantial contributions to Social Security through the payroll tax, even though neither they nor their families are eligible to receive benefits. The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare believes that bringing undocumented workers into our national family would be beneficial for the country and good for Social Security as well.

Rising health care costs have led policymakers to look for ways to reduce overall spending without affecting the quality of care.  Two proposals, aimed at saving the Medicare program money, that are receiving attention are: 1) allowing the federal government to negotiate with drug companies for lower prescription prices and 2) restoring drug manufacturer rebates (discounts) for coverage provided to low-income beneficiaries.

As Washington continues budget discussions, some have suggested changing Social Security by tying cost of living increases (COLA’s) to a Chained CPI, which uses a different measure of inflation than currently used to calculate COLAs.

The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare has endorsed the Medicare Drug Savings Act introduced today by Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Angus King (I-ME).