National Committee To Preserve Social Security and Medicare - Advocacy Campaigns

Advocacy Campaigns

2010 - The National Committee supported measures to close the Medicare Part D prescription “Doughnut Hole” and strengthen Medicare for seniors in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. After the passing of health care reform, the National Committee continues to educate seniors about the new provisions in the law (closing of the “doughnut hole” by 2020, elimination of preventive care copays, and cuts for subsidies to private insurers in Medicare Advantage Plans, and the Community Living Assistance Services and Support (CLASS) Act by creating informational DVDs, YouTube videos and newsletters for its members and the general public.

2009 – The National Committee campaigned to make seniors eligible for stimulus checks. The initial proposal for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 targeted all workers but excluded non-working seniors. Seniors were included in the final bill. Seniors are not required to complete any IRS filings and will automatically receive checks.

2008 – The National Committee campaigned to stop the "Medicare Trigger" that imposes a 45 percent cap on the government's funding of Medicare.

2008 – The National Committee led efforts to convince Congress to pass the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA, which reduced government subsidies to Medicare Advantage plans, improved benefits for mental health, and averted a 10.6 percent cut in fees to physicians who treat Medicare patients, helping to preserve beneficiary access to doctors and other practitioners.

2007 – The National Committee helped persuade the House to pass legislation strengthening Medicare for future generations and correcting many of the flaws in the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003.

2007 – The National Committee worked to persuade Congress to increase funding levels and thereby prevent massive furloughs at the Social Security Administration. The National Committee fought for increased funds, averting office closures all over the country in 2007. After continued intense lobbying, Congress approved funding for Fiscal Year 2008 at $451 million over the previous year's level, which helped expedite disability reviews.

2005/2006 – The National Committee joined seniors’ advocates nationwide to stop an attempt to privatize Social Security, sending petitions to Capitol Hill and letters to Congress and the White House, reaffirming seniors' rejection of Social Security private accounts. The National Committee coordinated town hall meetings, Capitol Hill briefings, talk show appearances and a member-supported media campaign to educate and inform lawmakers and the public about the potential negative effects of Social Security privatization.