Wexler Fights to Improve Cost of Living Adjustments for Seniors Under Social Security and Medicare

(Washington, DC) As seniors in South Florida and across the country face the ever-dwindling buying power of their Social Security checks, Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) is advocating for changes in how Social Security cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) are determined and new protections for seniors against skyrocketing Medicare Part D premiums.

COLAs are determined by the Consumer Price Index - a measure of inflation that due to falling energy prices and the nation’s economic recession is negative this year. The problem is that while the Consumer Price Index may have fallen this year, costs for seniors continue to rise faster than the rate of inflation because they spend a disproportionate amount of their income on health care and prescription drugs.

“Cost-of-living adjustments have simply not kept up with the skyrocketing cost of pharmaceuticals and medical care. It is time for Congress to take swift action to address this issue. I am a lead sponsor of the Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers Act, which would create a Consumer Price Index that accurately captures the typical costs faced by individuals above 62 years of age and would use this new index to compute Social Security cost of living adjustments.  I have also introduced the Medicare Prescription Drug Affordability Act, which protects seniors by preventing increases to Medicare Part D premiums from rising at a faster rate than Social Security cost of living adjustments.”

Congressman Wexler’s commitment to issues of importance to seniors is evident in his legislative record. He is the only Democrat in the House of Representatives to introduce a plan to ensure Social Security’s long term solvency – the Social Security Forever Act. Congressman Wexler also recently delivered a speech for the Alliance for Retired Americans in support of H.R. 3200, the America’s Affordable Health Choices Act. This bill would improve benefits for Medicare beneficiaries by eliminating out of pocket costs for routine screenings and primary care and finally reduces the prescription drug donut hole, which has resulted in over 20,000 seniors living in Florida’s 19th District being forced to pay out of pocket for their prescription drugs each year.

Congressman Robert Wexler is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe and a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. Recently, Congressman Wexler served as an advisor on Middle East issues to President Barack Obama during his 2008 presidential campaign.

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