Lucas Kaplan, Author at NCPSSM

Trouble Ahead for Medicare Advantage & Medicaid Patients

For years, Medicare Advantage (MA) providers have marketed their plans with celebrity endorsements, promises of extra dental, vision, and hearing benefits, and the appeal of low or zero monthly premiums. But for millions of older adults, that illusory promise of stable coverage is colliding with a harsh reality. Unsatisfied with profits, insurance giants like Humana, United HealthCare and Aetna are pulling out of some markets entirely, leaving Medicare Advantage patients stranded. People enrolled in these plans will be forced to look elsewhere for their coverage in 2027.

Lucas Kaplan2026-09-01T13:44:58-04:00September 1st, 2026|Categories: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, healthcare, Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare Advantage|

Protecting FDR’s Vision on Social Security’s 91st Birthday

When President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Social Security into law 91 years ago -- on August 14, 1935 – he said its enactment was “historic for all time.” FDR was right. Nine decades later, Social Security remains one of the most successful – and most popular – federal programs ever. In poll after poll, overwhelming majorities of Americans across party lines approve of Social Security – and don’t want to see it cut. Despite public sentiment, there’s been a well-funded, long-term movement to undermine this landmark achievement of FDR’s New Deal. Many on the political right have opposed Social Security from the very beginning.

Lucas Kaplan2026-08-14T18:25:55-04:00August 14th, 2026|Categories: President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Social Security|

Trump & GOP’s Role in Rising Health Insurance Costs

New reporting shows Affordable Care Act (ACA) premiums are set to spike by an average of 14% in 2027, on top of last year’s double‑digit hike. It’s exactly what you’d expect from a Trump administration that has made life more expensive and health care less secure for the most vulnerable Americans. For millions of Americans who buy coverage on the ACA marketplaces, the story of the past two years is simple: the bill got bigger, the help got smaller, and people are walking away from coverage.

Lucas Kaplan2026-07-22T11:03:02-04:00July 22nd, 2026|Categories: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, healthcare, Medicaid, Medicare, Trump Administration|

Latest Atlantic Piece Ignores the Real Oligarchy

In his latest column for The Atlantic titled “An Oligarchy of Old People,” author Idrees Kahloon correctly identifies a troubling symptom

Lucas Kaplan2026-07-14T16:05:42-04:00July 14th, 2026|Categories: ageism, Equal Time, Medicare, Social Security|

Trump Goes “Down Under” for Latest Privatization Ploy

After turning the page on his self-indulgent USA250 bonanza, marred by extreme heat and disappointing attendance, President Trump has once again set his sights on Americans’ earned retirement benefits. On Monday, he announced that his administration is “working on a plan” to create accounts for adults loosely inspired by Australia’s retirement savings system – and similar to the Trump accounts for children. Our president and CEO Max Richtman told MarketWatch today that Trump should be working on strengthening Social Security instead of “toying around” with federally-seeded private accounts. “We would advise President Trump to focus on Social Security - a program that has worked splendidly for more than 90 years to provide Americans with basic retirement security” - Max Richtman, President and CEO, NCPSSM

Lucas Kaplan2026-08-10T15:34:59-04:00July 7th, 2026|Categories: GOP, President Trump, privatization, Social Security|

Social Security Is Heating up This Summer

Social Security is back in the headlines this summer, driven by both hopeful developments and urgent warnings. In the wake of the Trustees report in June, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Bernie Moreno (R-OH), announced a bipartisan proposal to adjust the Social Security payroll wage cap and stabilize the program’s revenue ahead of looming insolvency in the early 2030s. Moreno’s participation in a plan to increase Social Security revenue is particularly notable – and is the first of its kind from a Republican on Capitol Hill in recent memory. This is an encouraging signal that protecting Social Security benefits can bring people together across party lines. (Bipartisan majorities of Americans favor increasing revenue flowing into the system instead of reducing benefits, even if it means paying more in Social Security payroll taxes.) It also underscores something advocates have been saying for years: the best way to preserve Social Security is not by cutting it, but by demanding that the wealthiest Americans contribute their fair share.

Lucas Kaplan2026-07-01T15:54:12-04:00July 1st, 2026|Categories: Boost Social Security, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Social Security, Social Security on the Ballot, Social Security Trust Fund|

Fact-Checking the Frankster 2.0

The Trump administration is celebrating Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano’s first year on the job with a triumphant press release, hailing the agency as a “premier service organization.” In truth, there isn’t much to celebrate, despite Bisignano’s boasting.

Lucas Kaplan2026-05-13T12:25:45-04:00May 12th, 2026|Categories: Commisioner Bisignano, Politics, Social Security, Social Security Administration (SSA), Social Security Facts, SSA field offices, Uncategorized|

Equal Time: Dudek’s Bizarre Attack on Rep. Larson

Former Acting Social Security Commissioner Leland Dudek must be a skilled contortionist, because he tied himself into knots attacking a true

Lucas Kaplan2026-05-06T12:10:29-04:00May 5th, 2026|Categories: DOGE, Elon Musk, Rep. John Larson, Social Security Administration (SSA), Trump Administration|

Tommy Tuberville Thinks Your Social Security Benefits are a Scam

Last week, Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) showed a blatant disregard for 1.2 million of his constituents who depend on Social Security when he called the program a “scam” in a viral X post. The outburst drew immediate backlash from seniors’ advocates, Democrats, and local media in his home state of Alabama.

Lucas Kaplan2026-04-27T20:02:41-04:00April 23rd, 2026|Categories: Republicans, Senate, Social Security Administration (SSA), Trump Administration|

Trump Throws Medicare, Medicaid Under The Bus for War in Iran

We always knew Trump wasn’t sincere about protecting Medicare and Medicaid. But he just betrayed his own lie by saying that the two programs - which provide 140 million people with health coverage - should NOT EXIST on the federal level. Why? Because defense should be the federal government’s only priority. Trump didn’t run as a libertarian. But his (poorly worded) declaration would make the Cato Institute blush:

Lucas Kaplan2026-04-03T12:57:13-04:00April 3rd, 2026|Categories: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Medicare, President Trump, Uncategorized|