SS, Medicare cuts will increase poverty in AZ

-Supplemental Poverty Measure finds
more seniors struggling in Arizona-

(Peoria, AZ) – A new analysis of Census data shows that more Arizonans are living in poverty.  This analysis shines a spotlight on harmful cuts to Social Security and Medicare now being considered in Washington that could push even more seniors into poverty.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation analysis, 15 percent of people 65 and older in Arizona have incomes below the supplemental poverty line. This compares to 9 percent of older Arizonans living in poverty under the traditional measure. 

“The reality of these numbers show that seniors depend on Medicare and Social Security to make ends meet, and that cutting these benefits could push those on the brink into serious financial hardship,” said David Mitchell, AARP Arizona State Director.

Right now, some politicians support a “chained CPI” – a fancy Washington term that really means cutting Social Security by $127 billion over the next 10 years alone.  The cut would start now and grow larger every year, hurting seniors the most when they can least afford it.  There are also harmful Medicare proposals that would cut benefits or force patients to pay more out of their own pockets or even avoid care, while failing to contain long-term cost increases that are the real, underlying problem for health care and the federal budget.

“The ‘chained CPI’ would take thousands of dollars out of the pockets of Arizonans.  Our seniors would also be faced with additional co-pays in Medicare, forcing them to pay more without doing anything to control costs throughout the health care system,” Mitchell added. “AARP continues to fight for responsible solutions to keep Medicare and Social Security strong.”

The non-profit Kaiser Family Foundation report provides a state-specific breakdown of poverty rates among seniors using both the traditional measure of poverty and an alternative measure first released by the Census Bureau in 2011. The alternative, or ‘supplemental’ poverty measure, more accurately represents real world conditions by taking into account seniors’ disproportionately high health care costs. It finds a higher poverty rate among seniors in every state.

The Kaiser Family Foundation report can be accessed here:

http://kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/a-state-by-state-snapshot-of-poverty-among-seniors/

For more AARP Arizona resources and information, please visit www.earnedasay.org or www.aarp.org/az .

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of more than 37 million, that helps people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services.  A trusted source for lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces AARP The Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Español, a bilingual news source.  AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates.  The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at www.aarp.org.