Has Obama done anything for older Americans?

[leftyladyfrommo]

One of my older friends is not an Obama fan because she said he has not done one thing for her. She is 71. And single.

I can't remember anyone doing anything for me. I am older and single. I never get a break on anything. Breaks all go to heads of households or married couples.

Does Hillary ever address the problems that older, retiring Americans have - like being forced out of the work force at 50 and not being able to find another job. And having to use up their retirement savings just to survive until their SS kicks in?

[bravenak]

1. Medicare donut hole came to mind immediately.

[leftyladyfrommo]

2. Have they closed the donut hole?

My friend takes some expensive diabetes meds and I know she ended up having to pay the whole thing for a while last year.

[bravenak]

3. I don't think it has been closed all the way.

There has been gradual progress, but I know that is not helpful right now. I'll think on it.

[Tanuki]

6. The president's 2015 budget was supposed to close it by 2016

https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/budget/fy2015/assets/fact_sheets/supporting-seniors.pdf
..."The Budget proposes to close the donut hole in the Part D
benefit by 2016, rather than 2020, by increasing the discounts offered by the pharmaceutical industry. This proposal builds on the Affordable Care Act’s phased closure of the donut hole that has saved 7.3 million seniors $8.9 billion since enactment of the law"

[Tanuki]

4. He kept this fom happening:

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/seniors-groups-organize-retirees-oba
...."A coalition of progressive advocacy groups for seniors are revving up their efforts to educate elderly Americans about the deep cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits they say are certain to be implemented if Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney wins November’s election.
......

The Congressional Budget Office, a federal agency that provides economic data to Congress, estimates that in today’s dollars new Medicare beneficiaries would see benefits reduced by several hundred dollars by 2023, more than $1,200 in 2030 and more than $5,900 by 2050 if Ryan’s budget passes.

Ryan has also proposed upping the Medicare-eligibility age to 67 from 65 in 2023. Earlier this summer, House Republican leader John Boehner went a step further, saying he’s in favor of raising the Social Security retirement age to 70 for people who have at least 20 years until retirement.

“The Ryan budget… will almost certainly shift costs to the most vulnerable among us—seniors and people with disabilities,” wrote Nancy Altman, co-founder of Social Security Works, in an email to Lean Forward this week.
........

The Alliance for Retired Americans estimates that the GOP budget could raise health care costs by $4,300 for nearly one million individuals if it is implemented. The alliance also estimates that if Ryan’s budget passed 70% of Social Security beneficiaries would lose a huge chunk of their benefits—nearly 30% for the average retiree in 2080.
........

His fiscal plan passed the Republican-controlled House in April and has since been adopted as a key part of the party’s 2012 campaign platform.

President Obama has derided Ryan’s budget repeatedly, calling it “antithetical to our history as a land of opportunity.”

...."

[leftyladyfrommo]

5. Boy am I underwhelmed.

I just don't think anyone in government gives a rats ass about older people who are struggling.