My grandparents worked hard all their lives, and when they retired, they relied on Social Security and Medicare. Nevada’s seniors have contributed to these programs throughout their lives, and they deserve to retire knowing they can depend on these hard-earned benefits. That’s why it has always been my priority to protect Medicare and Social Security for Nevadans, especially in the face of extremist politicians who want to cut them.
During his presidency, Donald Trump said over and over that he was open to cutting Social Security and Medicare, and every year of his presidency, he proposed budgets that included spending cuts to these programs. Now, he’s making it clear that if he returns to the White House, he will try yet again to deprive seniors of their hard-earned benefits. This is completely unacceptable.
Medicare and Social Security are too important to Nevadans to let extremist politicians have their way. More than 1.3 million Nevadans pay into Social Security, expecting that they will get a return on their investment once they reach retirement age. More than one in six Nevada residents receives Social Security benefits, with over 100,000 Nevada residents depending on the program for at least 90% of their income. Without Social Security benefits, 35% of Nevadans 65 or older would be in poverty. When it comes to health care, nearly 600,000 Nevadans are enrolled in Medicare. These programs are vital to Nevada families and our economy.
It’s my mission to not just protect Medicare and Social Security, but strengthen and expand these programs. I was proud to work with the Biden-Harris administration to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, which is lowering prescription drug costs for seniors in Nevada and across the country. Thanks to this legislation, Medicare finally has the power to negotiate lower prescription drug prices directly with Big Pharma. Seniors with Medicare will no longer pay more than $35 per month out of pocket for insulin. In addition, drug companies are now penalized if they raise a drug’s price faster than the rate of inflation, a policy that protects Nevada seniors from unjustified price gouging at the pharmacy counter.
I also want to make sure Nevada’s seniors are aware of their options when it comes to their Medicare benefits, especially because selecting the plan that’s best for you can sometimes be complicated to navigate. Medicare beneficiaries can and should make use of the Nevada Medicare State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which provides free counseling to answer questions and help seniors better understand their benefits. I encourage Nevada seniors to explore their options with SHIP, including reaching out to their volunteers and attending their seminars that will help them make informed health care decisions. Contact your local Senior Center or the toll-free statewide counseling number at 1-800-307-4444 for information.
My office is also to help with any and all Social Security or Medicare issues. We’ve helped seniors and individuals with disabilities across our state get the benefits they deserve, such as David, a Reno resident. In 2023, David applied to start receiving his Social Security benefits, but his application was stalled through no fault of his own. He waited for months without getting his hard-earned benefits, so he reached out to my office in the hope of resolving the issue. My staff heard his concerns and reached out to the local Social Security Administration, urging them to make sure David’s application was processed as soon as possible. Within two weeks, David started receiving his Social Security funds. If you or a loved one is facing challenges with benefits, please reach out to my office.
Nevada’s seniors helped build this state and make it what it is today, and I have made it my priority to ensure they have access to their earned benefits. I will always protect Social Security and Medicare and stand against anyone working to cut support for these programs – because our seniors deserve to retire with dignity.
