Senior Hispanics Concerned Mostly About Social Security, Medicare

By Hope Gillette, Voxxi

Hispanics over the age of 50 are not just worried about jobs when it comes to the upcoming presidential election. According to surveys conducted by AARP, Hispanics over the age of 50 want candidates to address issues related to the future of Social Security and Medicare.

“For these voters, ‘retirement security’ and ‘economic security’ are largely the same thing,” said Nancy LeaMond, AARP Executive Vice President.

The AARP surveys indicate more than 70 percent of Hispanics over the age of 50 feel the future of such government programs will have a bearing on how they cast their votes during the upcoming election. Ninety-seven percent of retirement-age Latinos wish to see the next president work together with Congress to strengthen Social Security and Medicaid.

According to a blog from AARP, The uncertainty Hispanics feel regarding the future of government programs is evident in the numbers: Sixty-three percent believe they will have to delay retirement; 43 percent believe retirement will be out-of-reach; and 59 percent believe retirement won’t be comfortable.  AARP says the company agrees with the Hispanic viewpoint; both Social Security and Medicare are important quality-of-life components for people over the age of 50.

To address the issue, AARP has launched Tu Voz es Tu Derecho (You’ve Earned a Say (YEAS), a national forum designed to openly discuss the concerns United States residents have regarding Social Security and Medicare. Thus far, more than 3 million people have participated in YEAS, sharing opinions on how to best serve the retirement community.

“After years of paying into Medicare and Social Security, you deserve a voice in their future,” states YEAS. “You’ve Earned a Say is a national conversation committed to providing you with information about the proposals on the table in Washington—without the political jargon and spin.”

AARP’s Social Security infographic. (AARP)

AARP’s Medicare infographic. (AARP)

This article was first published in Voxxi.

Hope Gillette is an award winning author and novelist. She has been active in the veterinary industry for over 10 years, and her experience extends from exotic animal care to equine sports massage. She shares her home with four cats, a dog, a horse, and her tolerant husband.

[Photo by longislandwins]