AARP Bulletin - April 2012

Your AARP ; Where We Stand

By A. Barry Rand, CEO

The Conversation Begins

As we kicked off You’ve Earned a Say, our national conversation to ensure that
Americans have a voice in the future of Medi-
care and Social Security, we asked this ques-
tion: “If you had a moment with the president
or a member of Congress, what would you tell
them about Medicare and Social Security?”
One man in his 50s replied, “I just want you
to protect Social Security and Medicare for my
son.” A woman in her late 60s who also takes care of her mother told us,
“I don’t know what would happen to us if we didn’t have Social Secu-
rity and Medicare benefits. It’s something that worries me a lot.” And a
younger mother said, “I have some concerns about the future of Social
Security and Medicare. Will these programs be there for my family
when they need them most? Will Medicare and Social Security be
there for me and my children? What are you doing to protect Medicare
and Social Security for current beneficiaries and future generations?”
These comments echo the sentiments we heard at events held March 19
in Denver, Miami, Columbus, Ohio, and Richmond, Va. They also reflect
the findings of our recent nationwide survey of adults 18 and over: More
than eight out of 10 adults believe Medicare and Social Security will be
“very important” to people’s health and financial security in retirement.
All age groups, Democrats, Republicans and independents agree.

On the other hand, our survey found far less confidence in the future viability of Medicare and Social Security. Just one in five adults was “very confident” Medicare and Social Security will be there for them throughout their retirement years.

Washington politicians are not in tune with what the American people say they want. Not surprisingly, our survey found that American adults of all age groups and political persuasions overwhelmingly believe that the politicians in Washington need to spend more time listening to ordinary citizens.

For the great majority of Americans who think Washington isn’t listening to them on Medicare and Social Security, AARP wants to provide a way to be heard. That’s what You’ve Earned a Say is all about.

In town hall meetings, community conversations, debates, webcasts and bus tours in all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, we’ll review the challenges facing the programs and the range of proposed remedies—including their impact on current and future beneficiaries.

As important as Social Security and Medicare are to the well-being of millions of Americans and their families, they need to be strengthened. Now is the time to join the conversation.

Attend an event in your area. Go to our special You’ve Earned a Say website— earnedasay.org—to complete a questionnaire and learn more. Get the facts. Express your views. We’ll let you know what we’re hearing on our earnedasay.org website and in our publications.

Let’s work together to protect today’s seniors and keep Social Security and Medicare strong for our kids and grandkids. There can be no better legacy. And remember: You’ve Earned a Say! ;

Measuring the Confidence Gap

Social Security
; Percentage who say Social Security
is very important to people’s financial
security in retirement (by age)

18-49 50-64

65+

89%

93% 78%

; Percentage who are very confident that Social Security will be there for them throughout their retirement (by age)

18-49 50-64

65+

9%

23%

43%

Medicare ; Percentage who say Medicare is very important to people’s health in retirement (by age)

18-49 50-64

65+

94% 85%

89%

; Percentage who are very confident that Medicare will be there for them throughout their retirement (by age)

18-49

50-64

65+

13%

16%

37%

Source: Survey of 1,207 adults age 18 and older conducted by Woelfel Research Feb. 13-28, 2012

Make Your Voice Heard

EDI TOR IN CHIEF AND VICE PRESIDENT James S. Toedtman DEPU T Y EDI TOR Joseph C. Haney

DESIGN DIREC TOR Eric Seidman

EXECUTIVE EDITORS Barbara Basler, Larry Lipman, Carol Simons FEA TURES EDI TORS Trish Nicholson, Sylvia A. Smith EDI TORIAL PRODUC TION MANAGER Cathy L. Hall CON TRIBU TING EDI TOR Carol Kaufmann

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Bulletin™

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDEN T & CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

Kevin J. Donnellan

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Catherine Ventura-Merkel

VICE PRESIDEN T, PUBLICATION OPERA TIONS Traci L. Lucien

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