AARP Forums, Survey Focus on Need for Social Security, Medicare Funding

The Connecticut chapter of AARP will hold public forums in the 4^th and 5^th Congressional Districts in the coming weeks, just prior to Election Day, highlighting the decisions that will need to be made next year by the newly elected administration and Congress regarding future of Medicare and Social Security.   The forums – which will detail the issues involved to assist people to decade amongst candidates  - will take place on October 29 in Waterbury and November 2 in Bridgeport. As a backdrop to the forums, AARP commissioned the development of a website focusing on the future of Medicare and Social Security, earlier this year.  More than 10,000 Connecticut visitors to the site have responded to AARP’s questionnaire to date.

Interestingly, 86 percent said they believe that Medicare and Social Security will need some combination of more funding or benefit changes. The majority of respondents (58 percent) think Social Security is okay as is or needs only minor changes, while 54 percent feel the same about Medicare. Only 18 percent of respondents believe Social Security is in immediate crisis and only 14 percent believe Medicare is in immediate crisis.