Federal spending mandated by our major entitlement programs (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid) today comprises the majority of the federal budget and will bankrupt the United States absent imminent structural reforms.
Not only do these entitlement programs drain federal spending dollars, but they don’t do a particularly good job of delivering promised services and benefits. Social Security provides a shameful rate of return for most recipients, especially when compared with private sector alternatives. And seniors and the poor are finding it increasingly difficult to find a doctor who will accept Medicare or Medicaid patients.
IPI has proposed specific, concrete solutions that would not only make these programs solvent and sustainable, but also deliver superior benefits. Entitlements should not be reformed solely for the benefit of the federal government, but also for the benefit of taxpayers and recipients.
Wasn't the Presidential Election Supposed to Be About Growing Jobs and the Economy?
President Obama campaigned on growing jobs and the economy; but in his second inaugural address, he virtually ignores those challenges.
Galveston-Style Entitlement Reform Is On The Money
Switching to a pre-funded system similar to the Alternate Plan, even if it is only for new workers entering the system, means a day will come when we won't be adding even more unfunded liabilities or robbing from those who have paid in their entire working lives.
Fiscal deal makes social programs more vulnerable
The lack of spending cuts in legislation that averted the fiscal cliff will place enormous pressure on entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and even the president’s new heath insurance plan when negotiations begin in coming weeks to reduce the deficit, analysts said Wednesday.
Democrats Draw Line on Medicaid Cuts
NPR health policy correspondent Julie Rovner cites IPI's Dr. Merrill Matthews on why Medicaid needs a complete overhaul. "Although it's better than not having any insurance, it is bad insurance. And I argue that health care coverage for the poor shouldn't necessarily be poor coverage."
Seven Reasons States Should Just Say No To Medicaid Expansion
Since ObamaCare's success will be judged solely by how many uninsured people attain coverage, Democrats are desperately hoping the states will accept the Medicaid expansion being foisted on them by the health care law. But they may be be disappointed, writes IPI's Merrill Matthews.
Is the Government Reducing Medicare Fraud? Who Knows?
ObamaCare gave the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services $77 million to fight Medicare fraud, but CMS has failed to let Congress know how well it’s doing in that fight.
Welfare, in its many forms, mushrooms
The Orange County Register editorial board writes that vast welfare expansion adds to the looming fiscal catastrophe posed by general entitlement spending. According to IPI's Merrill Matthews and Mark E. Litow, chairman of the Social Insurance Public Finance Section of the Society of Actuaries, "the coming entitlements cliff" is substantially greater than the end-of-the-year fiscal cliff, a combination of expiring Bush-era tax cuts and automatic spending cuts.
Election Over, Liberals Call for Entitlement Reform
Now that the election is over and President Obama can no longer be held accountable by the voters, liberals are claiming the country needs entitlement reform.
Will There Be a Fix for the 'Doc Fix'?
One important element of the "fiscal cliff" is what's known as the "Doc Fix," because without a fix doctors will stop seeing Medicare patients.
Gazing Into the Abyss
The election was an opportunity for the American people to pull back from the abyss formed by all of these “cliffs” we face. But instead of stepping back from the abyss, it appears that the American people have decided take a step closer, lean forward, and gaze into the abyss.
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