Bill Overview
Title: Commission on Sustaining Medicare and Social Security Act of 2022
Description: This bill temporarily establishes the Commission on Sustaining Medicare and Social Security within the legislative branch to report on specified information relating to the Medicare program and the Social Security retirement and disability programs. The report must address (1) the impact of using alternative price indexes to determine cost-of-living adjustments; (2) the impact of using alternative formulas to calculate certain Medicare premiums; and (3) recommendations to prevent fraud, increase integrity, increase sustainability, and reduce improper payments in the programs.
Sponsors: Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals worldwide relying on government old-age and disability benefits similar to US Medicare and Social Security.
Estimated Size: 70000000
- The bill focuses on Medicare and Social Security programs, which are primarily used by the elderly and individuals with disabilities.
- Medicare is a federal program that provides health coverage for people 65 or older and certain younger people with disabilities.
- Social Security retirement benefits primarily support older adults who have retired.
- Social Security disability programs support individuals who cannot work due to disabilities.
- Any changes recommended by the commission could affect how cost-of-living adjustments and premiums are calculated, impacting the financial wellbeing of beneficiaries.
- Fraud prevention and sustainability efforts can impact all recipients by potentially changing how benefits are administered.
Reasoning
- The targeted population consists mainly of the elderly and people with disabilities who rely on Medicare and Social Security and may be concerned about how changes to the program impact their financial and health security.
- The policy aims to study these impacts and suggest improvements, balancing the need for integrity, sustainability, and preventing fraud while ensuring beneficiaries are not overly burdened by new cost-of-living or premium calculation methods.
- It is important to include a diverse range of perspectives on how any potential changes could affect financial and physical wellbeing, capturing both immediate and longer-term impacts across different demographics and geographical areas.
- The policy is designed with a budget constraint, meaning solutions must be cost-effective, without imposing extra costs on beneficiaries unnecessarily. We must also consider those unaffected due to income thresholds or existing alternative provisions.
Simulated Interviews
retired school teacher (Palm Springs, CA)
Age: 72 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Concerns about any reductions in Social Security or Medicare benefits due to changes in calculations.
- Appreciates initiatives to reduce fraud but hopes it's not at the cost of her benefits.
- Worries about the impact of inflation if cost-of-living adjustments are inadequate.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
retired auto worker (Detroit, MI)
Age: 68 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 17/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Hopes the commission can find a way to keep Medicare costs down.
- Worries about the possibility of higher Medicare premiums impacting his tight budget.
- Supports efforts to crack down on fraud for better utilization of funds.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 2 |
retired entrepreneur (Miami, FL)
Age: 74 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Generally confident that the commission's work will help improve system integrity.
- Minimal concern about personal impact due to diverse income sources beyond Social Security.
- Sees the policy as a necessary step for long-term program sustainability.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
disabled veteran (Dallas, TX)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Hopes the commission will enhance benefits for disabled veterans like himself.
- Concerned about any increases in premiums or costs due to budget constraints.
- Supports fraud prevention as long as legitimate claims aren't affected.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
retired farmer (Rural Kansas)
Age: 84 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Extremely worried about changes in cost-of-living adjustments affecting her already limited income.
- Concerned about the distance and access to Medicare services in her rural location.
- Hopes the commission can address rural health access and support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
government employee nearing retirement (Portland, OR)
Age: 58 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Anticipates a smooth transition to retirement benefits if the commission's proposals are well-designed.
- Concerns about any sudden changes to expected benefit formulas before retirement.
- Positive about fraud prevention to secure existing funds.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
retired engineer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 66 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Confident in the commission's ability to secure benefits for future generations.
- Slightly concerned about potential premium hikes but prepared financially.
- Supports any measures to reduce system-wide fraud.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
retired nurse (Seattle, WA)
Age: 80 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Opposes any benefit reductions that could reduce her current standard of living.
- Hopeful for the commission's fraud prevention efforts to optimize benefits.
- Concerned that changes in cost-of-living adjustments might not cover medical inflation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
self-employed consultant (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Accepts the need to review benefit calculations to ensure sustainability.
- Focused on maximizing his and his family's future benefits through informed planning.
- Encourages the commission to support flexible work/retirement options.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
retired executive assistant (New York, NY)
Age: 77 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Believes that enhancing Medicare and Social Security should be a priority.
- Wants the commission to safeguard against any financial missteps reducing benefits.
- Positive outlook on efforts to minimize fraud and enhance fiscal responsibility.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $7500000 (Low: $7000000, High: $8000000)
Year 2: $7500000 (Low: $7000000, High: $8000000)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The commission requires adequate funding to attract qualified experts and complete its proposed tasks effectively.
- Potential cost savings from fraud prevention and improper payments could outweigh the initial costs of the commission in the long run.
- The bill's findings and recommendations could influence future legislative reforms in Medicare and Social Security, affecting millions of beneficiaries.