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I recently received an e-mail survey from the Senior Citizens League, a senior advocacy group. Out of curiosity I completed the survey so I could see all the questions. They are all leading questions all focused on getting more for seniors.
What is not contained in the e-mail is reference to the financial status of Social Security and Medicare, the need to lower costs or increase FICA taxes or both. As I read it, it is all about me, me, me.
I think this effort is unfair to younger Americans and a bit selfish. Why do we seniors deserve more at the expense of younger Americans?
I find all this as disturbing as the movement to excerpt seniors from property taxes.
HD is about being financially prudent, about preparing for retirement and other financial events when being a senior is real. I think readers reflect all that, but I suspect that is not reflecting the majority of seniors.
Example survey questions:
Overall, how satisfied are you with the amount you receive from your monthly Social Security benefit check(s)?
The Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) is 2.8 percent for 2026. Which of the following statements best describes how you feel about this COLA? (Fair, too low, too high).
How do you feel about the idea of guaranteeing a 3 percent minimum COLA for Social Security beneficiaries?
How do you feel about the proposal to eliminate ALL taxes on Social Security benefits?
Overall, how satisfied are you with the cost of your Medicare benefits?
How do you feel about changing the COLA calculation to use an inflation index designed specifically to measure seniors’ economic experiences?
How do you feel about the idea of the government issuing a senior stimulus payment?
Who gets the better deal for “health insurance”? Seniors paying $2,434.80 per year, or someone who is not a “senior” and pays $17,592 per year? That’s a trick question!
The WSJ had an article in the print version on January 26, and also online. It pointed out the Irmaa Medicare charges for higher earners. However, the article also included this:
“according to KFF’s ACA [Obamacare] premium calculator, the cost of a silver plan for a 64-year-old nonsmoking single person with no children who earns $150,000 and has no employer coverage or federal subsidy would be $1,466 a month.” That’s $17,592 per year.
In the same article, the Medicare Part B premium for a single filer earning $137,001 to $171,000 per year will pay a monthly premium of $405.80 per person, including Irmaa charges. That’s $4,896.60 per year.
Some seniors complain about the Irmaa charges, but if the single filer annual earnings are $109,00 or less (or $218,001 joint income) the Medicare Part B charges are $202.90 per month. That’s $2,434.80 per person, per year. Of course, Part D will increase this.
The article acknowledges “To be sure, even with Irmaa charges Medicare premiums often remain a bargain when compared with the cost of other health coverage—if one can get it.”
Something like Irmaa applied to social security benefits would go a long way toward levelling the playing field. Politicians always talk about protecting “hard working Americans” but don’t, and special interest groups do everything they can to continue favored treatments for seniors.
Let’s not forget seniors paid taxes for their benefits too. I paid over $98,000 in Medicare taxes, (like amount for employer) including writing a check for $16,000 when I retired because part of my pension is non-qualified and according to the prescribed calculation had a present value of $1.6 million which I may never actually receive since it is only paid monthly under our standard pension formula.
Of course, seniors don’t “deserve” more than any other group. But the U.S. has become semi-socialist in the name of doing good. The AARP is another senior advocacy group which promotes changes in SS which would probably be to the detriment of other taxpayers.
Socialism is the government ownership and control over the means of production. There is nothing socialist about strong safety net progr