This is one in a series of reports from States Newsroom on the key policy issues in the presidential campaign.
WASHINGTON — The presidential debate in early September included just one mention of Social Security and three references to Medicare, making the safety net programs a miniature part of the political discussion despite their importance to tens of millions of Americans.
Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and Republican nominee Donald Trump have both mentioned the programs multiple times during their appearances, although neither campaign has attempted to highlight the two programs’ financial stability as a key issue.
In most cases, Harris and Trump rebuke their opponent while pledging to “save” Social Security and Medicare, ignoring the details or the role Congress must play in the discussion.
How to address projected shortfalls in the Social Security and Medicare trust funds will be an increasingly critical issue for the President and Congress over the next decade.
The latest social security Trustees report assumes that the old-age, survivors’ insurance and disability insurance trust funds will be able to pay full benefits by 2035. After that, without legislative action, benefits would drop to about 83%.
The Trustee report for Medicare shows that the funding stream for the hospital insurance trust fund can cover all of its bills through 2036, before it will only be able to cover 89% of costs.
There are currently 67.5 million people enrolled in Medicarewhich provides health insurance and prescription drug coverage to people over 65 years of age and younger people with certain solemn illnesses or disabilities.
Nearly 68 million people receive some level of Social Security benefits each month, accounting for about $1.5 trillion in annual federal government spending, a study finds Fact sheet.
While the issue is somewhat less pressing for Trump, whose term would be confined to another four years, Harris could theoretically spend the next eight years in the Oval Office, which would make the solvency of the trust funds an issue they are likely to discuss with Congress would have to.
Protect seniors
During the September debate, Harris brought up Social Security and Medicare after being asked how her political views on fracking, assault weapons and border security have changed over time.
“My work protecting Social Security and Health Insurance is based on many years of work I have done. Protecting seniors from fraud,” Harris said as part of a longer response. “My values have not changed. And what’s critical is that you have a president who actually brings values and a perspective that’s about lifting people up, not knocking them down and berating them.”
Harris later brought up Medicare again, pointing out that a law Congress passed during Biden’s term allowed program administrators for the first time to negotiate certain prescription drug prices. This law, known as the Inflation Reduction Act, also capped insulin costs for Medicare members at $35 per month.
During the September debate with Harris, Trump did not address the issue of Social Security or Medicare, but he spoke about the two programs during an earlier summer debate with President Joe Biden before stepping down as the Democratic nominee.
During that debate, Trump claimed the Biden administration would “destroy” the two programs by allowing non-citizens to receive benefits.
Fact check Information on his website that comments and viral posts about non-citizens receiving Social Security benefits do not always reflect reality and sometimes confuse various programs.
“Immigrants who are legally permitted to live or work in the United States are entitled to a Social Security number and, in some cases, Social Security benefits. But viral posts falsely claim that “illegal immigrants” can receive Social Security numbers and retirement benefits, and they confuse two programs administered by the Social Security Administration.”
KFF writes on his website Whether legal immigrants are eligible for Medicare depends on several factors, including how long they have been paying into the system.
“New immigrants are not eligible for Medicare regardless of their age. Once immigrants meet residency requirements, eligibility and enrollment work the same as for others.”
Trump on entitlement programs
Trump’s comments on entitlement programs have not always been consistent or entirely clear, but he and his campaign both claim they will “save” the program.
During one Interview with CNBC In March, Trump said lawmakers could take numerous measures to combat solvency.
“There’s a lot that can be done as far as entitlements goes, as far as cutting and also the theft and mismanagement of entitlements,” Trump said, withering to list any of those policy proposals.
Trump’s campaign website posted a video from him in January 2023, saying Republicans should “not cut a dime” from Medicare or Social Security to fund other legislation.
The problems with Social Security and Medicare are not related to Congress cutting tax dollars going to the programs. Rather, it is the structure for the programs that the legislature has previously set up.
Without congressional action, the trust funds will be unable to process benefit payments in the long term.
So the challenge for the next president will not be to stop lawmakers from taking action on Social Security and Medicare, but to find a bipartisan path for legislation to change revenues, spending, or both.
Trump wants to eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits Writing on social media in July that “SENIORS SHOULD NOT PAY TAXES ON SOCIAL SECURITY!”
Henry Aaron, Bruce and Virginia MacLaury Chair and senior fellow in the Economic Studies Program at the Brookings Institution, wrote in a detailed The platform’s analysis said Trump’s proposal to eliminate the income tax on Social Security benefits “would accelerate trust fund depletion by approximately two years and increase the long-term funding gap by more than 7%.”
Harris guidelines
Harris’ Campaign website says it would “protect Social Security and Medicare from the relentless attacks of Donald Trump and his extreme allies.”
“It will strengthen Social Security and Medicare in the long run by making millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share of taxes,” the policy site says. “She will always fight to ensure that Americans can count on receiving the benefits they deserve.”
Harris Announced at the beginning of October During an appearance on “The View,” she said that if elected, she would work to provide long-term home care for seniors enrolled in Medicare.
“There are so many people in our country who are right in the middle: They’re taking care of their children and they’re taking care of their aging parents, and it’s just almost impossible to do everything, especially when they’re working.” Harris said during the live interview. “We find that so many then have to leave their jobs, which means the loss of a source of income, not to mention the emotional stress.”
The proposals would likely require partial, if not full, congressional approval to move forward and could come with an annual price tag of $40 billion, the campaign said a fact sheet that there are pay-fors.
“These new benefits will be paid in full and will extend the life of the Medicare trust fund by expanding Medicare drug price negotiations, increasing the discounts drug manufacturers provide for certain brand-name drugs in Medicare, and combating Medicare fraud,” it said .
A Harris administration would also “take action against pharmaceutical benefit managers (PBMs) to increase transparency, disclose more cost information, and regulate other practices that increase prices” and “implement international tax reform” to support the changes finance.
