Trump’s New Health Care Plan: An Ineffective Executive Order and a Miniscule Bribe

White House officials announced on Thursday that President Trump is set to sign an Executive Order “aimed at helping Americans with pre-existing conditions with their healthcare coverage.”

Immediately after the Executive Order was announced, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar, confirmed that it carries no legal weight and would not protect anyone with pre-existing health conditions from higher insurance prices if the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is struck down by the Supreme Court later this year.

The president also said that 33 million Medicare beneficiaries will receive a one-time card in the mail worth $200 to help pay for prescription drugs -- a paltry amount considering the average senior spends more than $5,000 out of pocket every year on health care.

“President Trump’s latest proposal to confuse the situation with a small bribe to seniors is an inferior plan that does not even come close to matching the benefits of the Affordable Care Act that he is dead set on repealing. The Executive Order is not worth the paper it’s printed on. Seniors won’t be fooled,” said Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance.

“We have a law to cover pre-existing conditions, and it is the ACA. The House of Representatives in December, 2019 passed a bill, H.R. 3, that would lower skyrocketing drug prices by requiring Medicare to negotiate drug prices on the 250 highest priced drugs, including insulin, and use the savings to expand Medicare coverage to include hearing, dental and vision,” Fiesta added.

A Tribute to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Giant of the Supreme Court 

Alliance members are united in mourning the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. In addition to being a leader of the civil rights movement, she was a champion of women’s rights and the freedom to form a union.

As a justice, she also authored an important opinion on age discrimination, stating that two Arizona firefighters were protected by the federal age anti-discrimination law because it applied to state and local governments regardless of their size.

“She was a legal giant whose legacy will be felt for generations. We will never forget her many contributions to our nation and to ensuring fairness for all Americans, no matter your race, your gender, your religion, or your station in life,” said Alliance President Robert Roach, Jr.

President Roach Testifies at House “Save Our Social Security Now” Hearing

President Roach delivered testimony during a House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee Thursday, highlighting the detrimental impact of the President’s executive action on the Social Security payroll tax.

According to the Social Security actuary, if the Social Security payroll taxes were permanently terminated, the Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Fund would no longer be able to pay benefits in 2021, and the Old Age and Survivors Trust Fund would follow in 2023.

President Roach noted that the Executive Action will not help retirees, the more than 30 million unemployed Americans, or even workers, who will need to pay double the payroll contributions next year.

“I urge Congress to pass Congressman John Larson’s bills, H.J.Res. 94, a resolution of disapproval of President Trump’s executive action, and H.R. 8171, which bars the Treasury Department from implementing the deferral of payroll contributions,” said President Roach.

He added that seniors are already bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic, with 80% of deaths occurring in Americans 65 and over, and should not lose the Social Security benefits they earned over a lifetime.

North Carolina Alliance Agreement with State Makes Voting Easier During Pandemic

Older voters throughout North Carolina will be able to vote more easily in November as a result of a significant voting rights agreement between the North Carolina Alliance and the State of North Carolina filed on Tuesday.

Under the agreement:

• A ballot that is postmarked by Election Day that is received up to 9 days after the election will be counted;
• Voters will be allowed to “cure” any missing witness information on the container envelope by submitting a cure affidavit in person, by email, or by mail; and
• Voters can submit their absentee ballots curbside by providing their name orally, without waiting in line with other one-stop voters, thus alleviating long lines and potential exposure to COVID-19.

The case, North Carolina Alliance for Retired Americans v. North Carolina State Board of Elections, was filed with the support of the National Redistricting Foundation and the Right to Vote Foundation. 

“This agreement is a victory for all North Carolina voters, and is especially important for the 1.3 million who are over the age of 65. As a direct result of this suit, every North Carolina voter can cast a vote by mail and know that it will be counted," said Executive Director Fiesta. "We are particularly pleased that Postal Service delays will not prevent a ballot from being counted and that there will be a simple way for voters to drop off their ballots curbside.” 

In-Person Early Voting Now Underway in Several States

Minnesota, Virginia, South Dakota, Wyoming, Vermont and New Jersey have already begun early in-person voting, and the process began Thursday in Michigan and parts of Illinois. Other states, including Florida, have now begun sending out absentee or mail ballots.

“Now is the time to lock in your early vote in many states,” said Joseph Peters, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance. “Voting early is a stress-free way to cast your vote on your own schedule. Know your choices and make a plan to vote in advance that works for you.”

Many states have expanded their voting options in the last four years. If you are unsure of the timetable or voting laws for your state, go to www.vote.org. 

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