Social Security and Medicare are central topics in the 2024 Presidential election as they play crucial roles in ensuring the economic security and health care access of Americans. Social Security is a federal program in the United States that provides financial assistance to retired or disabled individuals and their dependents. It’s funded through payroll taxes and provides benefits such as retirement income, disability income, and survivor benefits. Furthermore, Medicare, also a federal program, offers health insurance primarily for people aged 65 and older, as well as certain younger individuals with disabilities. Medicare primary aim is to help cover various medical expenses, including hospital stays, doctor visits, and prescription drugs. 

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Keneddy holds views on Social Security emphasizing the importance of protecting low-income seniors. He opposes raising the age for Social Security, because it would disadvantage low-income seniors with lower life expectancies compared to wealthier seniors. Additionally, Kennedy’s stance on Medicare aligns with his broader views on social welfare, advocating for fair treatment and support for those in need within the American societal structure. He believes that the federal government should be allowed to negotiate drug prices for Medicare and that we overall need to increase funding of healthcare for low income individuals to guarantee healthcare for everyone.

Quotes:

“No, this will disadvantage low-income seniors whose life expectancy is lower than wealthier seniors”-  Kennedy on raising the retirement age for Social Security

“I would say my highest ambition would be to have a single-payer program... where people who want to have private programs can go ahead and do that, but to have a single program that is available to everybody”- Kennedy on the topic of Medicare for All 

Jill Stein:

Stein advocates for progressive policies on Social Security and Medicare. She supports expanding Social Security benefits, ensuring financial security for seniors, and opposes any cuts to the program. Regarding Medicare, Stein advocates for a Medicare-for-All system, aiming to transition away from the current private health insurance model to provide universal healthcare coverage for all Americans. Overall, her views align with a focus on social welfare and equitable access to healthcare services. 

Quotes:

“I will cut health care costs – a major, growing driver of the budget deficit – by cutting the wasteful, expensive administrative overhead of private insurance through a cost-saving Medicare-for-all system”

 “Strengthen rather than cut Medicare and Social Security. Remove the cap on Social Security taxes   above a certain level of income” 

“This proposal to turn our Social Security system over to private corporations would lead to huge losses for retirees who depend on Social Security. And it would create investment risks that cannot be tolerated in our Social Security program.”- Stein on privatizing Social Security 

Cornel West:

West supports Medicare for All, advocating for a universal healthcare system that provides coverage for all Americans. He emphasizes the importance of expanding and strengthening Social Security, likely supporting measures such as removing the cap on Social Security taxes for higher-income individuals to ensure the sustainability of the program. His views on these issues are built on a foundation of addressing inequality and social justice to ensure that essential services like healthcare are accessible to all.

Quotes:

“Go beyond Medicare for All towards true health justice”

“Habeas Corpus Healthcare, free healthcare for any and all residents of the United States “

Marianne Williamson:

Marianne Williamson’s views on Social Security and Medicare are centered around protecting and expanding these vital social welfare programs. She emphasizes the importance of Social Security in providing financial security for seniors, highlighting its role in reducing poverty among the elderly and disabled. Williamson opposes privatizing Social Security and advocates for eliminating the cap on income subject to Social Security payroll tax to ensure the program’s long-term solvency. Additionally, she supports Medicare for All as a means to provide universal healthcare coverage, aiming to save costs and guarantee comprehensive medical care for all Americans. Williamson’s stance underscores the significance of these programs in promoting dignity, security, and equality for all individuals in society

Quotes:

“Medicare for All would actually save us $5T over the course of 10 years. The question is not how will we pay for it? The question is why we are allowing ourselves to pay such a high cost for NOT having it: 68,000 people in America are dying every year from lack of healthcare. We are paying for that with our lives.”

“Under no circumstances should we put Social Security at risk. We need to protect this successful and compassionate program that retiring Americans have relied on for nearly eighty-five years.”

“ I will veto any attempts to privatize Social Security.”

Donald Trump: 

Trump promises to protect Social Security and Medicare, however he also proposes budget cuts to these federal programs to help address national debt. His administration’s budget proposals include spending cuts to Social Security, primarily by targeting disability benefits, and Medicare, largely by reducing provider payments. Overall, Trump’s stance on Social Security and Medicare has been a mix of advocating for reforms to address financial challenges while also asserting his commitment to safeguarding these social welfare programs. 

Quotes:

“I will never do anything that will jeopardize or hurt Social Security or Medicare. We’ll have to do it elsewhere. But we’re not going to do anything to hurt them”

“There is a lot you can do in terms of entitlements, in terms of cutting and in terms of also the theft and the bad management of entitlements”- Trump on the possibility of cutting Social Security and Medicare

“Cut waste, fraud and abuse everywhere that we can find it and there’s plenty of it. But do not cut the benefits our seniors worked for and paid for their entire lives. Save Social Security, don’t destroy it”

Joe Biden: 

President Biden’s views on Social Security and Medicare are centered around protecting and strengthening these essential social welfare programs. His budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2025 aims to extend the life of the Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund permanently by asking the highest-income Americans to pay their fair share and rejecting any proposals to cut benefits. Biden also opposes benefit cuts and privatization of Social Security and wants to ensure that higher-income individuals contribute proportionally. Additionally, he supports improving financial security for seniors and individuals with disabilities, enhancing benefits, and investing in Social Security Administration services to ensure Americans can access the benefits they have earned. 

Quotes:

“If anyone here tries to cut Social Security or Medicare or raise the retirement age I will stop them.”

“And on my watch, for the first time in 10 years, seniors are getting an increase in their Social Security checks.. So, checks are going to be up and Medicare payments are going to be down.”

“I won’t cut social security. I won’t cut Medicare. Instead of … giving tax breaks to the wealthy, I will protect and strengthen social security and Medicare and make the wealthy begin to pay their fair share.”