Social Security and Medicare

The fiscal challenges our country faces require solutions that don’t attempt to balance the budget on the backs of our seniors, children, and veterans. There are 133,263 Southern Illinoisans who depend on Social Security and 122,308 seniors who depend on Medicare. I have fought to protect every one of these people by actively working to protect both Social Security and Medicare from unnecessary policy changes and harmful budget cuts.

Americans have known for years that the money they pay into Social Security will be there for them, which is why I strongly disagree with those who would privatize Social Security and put that guarantee at risk. The promise of Social Security was made 78 years ago to seniors in Southern Illinois and across the country, and it is a promise we must keep.

I also oppose the revision to cost of living adjustment (COLA) calculations known as “chained CPI.” Although this policy would slow the rate of COLA increases, it is a hidden benefit cut that would have the strongest impact on the oldest and poorest Americans who depend on COLA increases to keep pace with inflation.

Simply put, we should not target the vulnerable in our communities to find fiscal balance.  I opposed cuts to Medicare Advantage, a vital program that many of the chronically ill rely on for treatment and supplies.  As a result of this strong opposition to these cuts to Medicare, not only will the 28,000 individuals in Southern Illinois that use the program be able to keep their coverage, but there will be a slight increase in average payment amounts.  

I am also committed to keeping Social Security field offices accessible.  Cutting the number of field offices, service times, and in-person services is another attempt to find fiscal balance at the expense of our dedicated employees and those that rely on the critical services they provide.

In my effort to protect Social Security and Medicare, the following are just some of the bills I have cosponsored:

H.R.574 -Medicare Physician Payment Innovation Act of 2013, this bill will help repeal the flawed Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) Formula and establishes a five-year period of payment stability.

H.R.155 -Notch Fairness Act of 2013, folks born between 1917 and 1926 receive lower COLA increases compared to their retiree counterparts. This would remedy that discrepancy from the Social Security Act of 1968.

H.R.570- American Heroes COLA Act, with my support this legislation passed the House in my first term. H.R. 570 requires that, whenever there is an increase in benefit amounts for Social Security, our disabled veterans receive an equivalent increase in their pay.

H.R.1179 - Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act of 2013, this bill would amend Medicare to cover any individual receiving outpatient services for 3 days in a skilled nursing facility. This solution to classification of hospital stay will ease the burden on seniors’ Medicare reimbursement for hospital pay.

H.R. 4583 – The SSI Savers Act, this bill will modernize the asset limit for Social Security Applicants, in order to encourage fiscal responsibility while setting realistic standards for the realities of today’s economy.

See also Senior Citizens' Resources.