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Fighting for Veterans Fighting for Veterans BABYBABY BOOMERBOOMER LAWLAW ANDAND POLITICSPOLITICS A FEDERAL POLICY GUIDE FOR SENIORS -- AND FUTURE SENIORS Jan Schneider, J.D., Ph.D. TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION: GREYING POLITICS ........................................................ X CHAPTER 1: BABY BOOMING IN THE UNITED STATES ................. X I. SENIORS LEADING LONGER, BETTER LIVES ........................... X II. MORE POLITICALLY-ACTIVE SENIORS ..................................... X A. Political Participation ................................................................ X B. Remaining Barriers ................................................................... X C. Resources Empowering Seniors ................................................ X D. Senior Perspectives ................................................................... X Conclusion ..................................................................................................... X CHAPTER 2: SECURING SOCIAL SECURITY ......................................... X I. SOCIAL SECURITY THE “SAFETY NET” ..................................... X A. Is There a Crisis? ....................................................................... X B. Who Benefits? ........................................................................... X C. Who Pays? ................................................................................. X D. How Is the System Financed? ................................................... X II. SAVING THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM ................................ X A. Restructuring Social Security Through Privatization ............... X 1. Bush Push for Personal Accounts ................................... X 2. Continuing Privatization Proposals ................................ X B. Reforming the System for Long-Term Viability ...................... X 1. Reducing Benefits and Costs .......................................... X (a) Raising Retirement Age(s) .................................... X (b) Introducing Means-Testing .................................. X (c) Revising Benefits Formulas .................................. X (d) Closing Loopholes ................................................ X 2. Raising Revenues ............................................................ X (a) Increasing the Payroll Tax Rate ........................... X (b) Raising or Eliminating the Cap ............................ X (c) Including State and Local Government Workers . X (d) Allowing Trust Fund Investments in Securities .... X (e) Other Revenue Proposals ..................................... X 3. Curbing Fraud, Waste and Abuse ................................... X Conclusion ..................................................................................................... X CHAPTER 3: CARING FOR MEDICARE .................................................... X I. MEDICARE HEALTH INSURANCE FOR SENIORS ..................... X A. How Does Medicare Work? ...................................................... X 1. Part A – Hospital Insurance ............................................ X 2. Part B – Supplementary Medical Insurance ................... X (a) Premiums .............................................................. X ii (b) Participation ......................................................... X (c) SGR and “Doc Fix” ............................................. X 3. Part C – Medicare Advantage ......................................... X 4. Part D – Prescription Drug Coverage ............................. X B. What Is Medicare “Supplemental Insurance” (“Medigap”)? .... X C. How Is Medicare Financed? ..................................................... X D. Is Medicare in Critical Condition? ............................................ X II. CURING MEDICARE ........................................................................ X A. Privatizing Medicare ................................................................ X 1. Transforming Medicare with Premium Support Payments/Vouchers ........................................................ X 2. Repealing Obamacare ..................................................... X B. Reforming the System for Long-Term Viability ...................... X 1. Decreasing Costs ............................................................ X (a) Raising Eligibility Age .......................................... X (b) Restricting “First Dollar” Coverage ................... X (c) Cost-Cutting and Cost-Sharing ............................ X (d) Managing Dual Eligibles ..................................... X (e) Reducing Fraud, Waste and Abuse ...................... X (f) Other Cost-Cutting Measures ............................... X 2. Increasing Revenues ....................................................... X (a) Raising Payroll Taxes ........................................... X iii (b) Raising Premiums ................................................. X (c) Including State and Local Government Workers . X (d) Other Revenue Proposals ..................................... X 3. Fixing the “Doc Fix” ...................................................... X 4. Ending Raids on Medicare Trust Funds ......................... X 5. Enacting Tort Reform ..................................................... X (a) Medical Malpractice ............................................ X (b) Secondary Payer Status ........................................ X 6. Reorienting American Healthcare .................................. X Conclusion ..................................................................................................... X CHAPTER 4: FIGHTING FOR VETERANS ................................................ X I. MILITARY AND VETERANS HEALTHCARE .............................. X A. How Does Military/Veterans Healthcare Work? ...................... X 1. DOD Tricare ................................................................... X 2. VA System ...................................................................... X 3. Affordable Care Act ....................................................... X B. Defects in the Systems .............................................................. X 1. Mental Health ................................................................. X (a) Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) ................ X (b) Suicide .................................................................. X 2. Women’s Health ............................................................. X iv (a) Health Services ..................................................... X (b) Military Sexual Trauma (MST) ............................ X C. VA Healthcare Scandals ........................................................... X 1. Secret Waiting List at Phoenix VAHCS ......................... X 2. Escalating Scandals ........................................................ X 3. Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act .......... X 4. Persistent Problems in the VHA ..................................... X II. DISABILITY CLAIMS ...................................................................... X A. How Are Service-Connected Disabilities Treated? .................. X B. Disability Issues ........................................................................ X 1. Processing Overload ....................................................... X 2. Discrimination ................................................................ X III. OTHER ISSUES ................................................................................. X A. Privatization .............................................................................. X B. Military Compensation and Benefits ........................................ X 1. Military/Civilian Comparability ..................................... X 2. COLA Calculation .......................................................... X 3. Modernized Retirement System ..................................... X 4. Other Compensation and Benefits Issues ....................... X C. Unemployment .......................................................................... X D. Homelessness ............................................................................ X v E. Issues Guidance ......................................................................... X Conclusion ..................................................................................................... X CHAPTER 5: VALUING FAMILIES ............................................................... X I. ESTATE AND GIFT TAXES ............................................................. X A. Rise and Fall of Estate/Gift Taxes ............................................ X 1. American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 .......................... X 2. Early Federal Taxes on Transfers at Death ..................... X (a) Early Taxes to Finance Wars ............................... X (b) Introduction of Modern Estate Tax ...................... X (c) Unified Estate and Gift Taxes ............................... X (d) Bush Tax Cuts ....................................................... X B. Ongoing Debate ........................................................................ X 1. Killing Death Taxes ........................................................ X 2. Closing Loopholes .......................................................... X 3. Political Posturing ........................................................... X II. RIGHT TO DIE ................................................................................... X A. Death With Dignity ..................................................................
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