What's at Stake in Idaho as Social Security & Medicare Cuts Considered?

AARP Releases State Stats & County Breakdown of Idahoans Who Could Get Hit by Budget Debate Outcomes, Urges President & Congress to Reject Cuts

BOISE, Idaho, July 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The debate over the federal deficit looms heavily in Idaho, where the fallout from cuts being considered to Social Security and Medicare would take a drastic toll.  Today, AARP is releasing state data, including a county by county breakdown of Idahoans who receive Social Security and Medicare, reminding the President and Congress of the real people in the Gem State who would be affected by cuts to the programs.  

"Cutting Social Security and shifting more costs onto Medicare beneficiaries will hurt hundreds of thousands of hardworking Idahoans who've paid into the programs and rely on the benefits in retirement," said Jim Wordelman, State Director for AARP in Idaho.   "AARP stands in strong opposition to Social Security and Medicare benefits being on the table as part of deficit reduction."

By the numbers, Social Security and Medicare in Idaho:

• 260,000 (17% of the state population) Idahoans receive Social Security.
• 36% of Social Security recipients in the state would fall into poverty without the monthly checks.
• More than half of Idahoans receiving Social Security count on it for 50% or more of their income.
• One in four of Idaho's 65+ say Social Security accounts for 90% of their income.
• $1,054 is the average monthly benefit for a Social Security recipient in Idaho.
• 86% of the state's 65+ have said the check is very important to their monthly budget (http://bit.ly/aarpidecon).  
• 225,735 Idahoans (15% of the population) count on Medicare for access to health care, from prescription drugs to visits to their doctor's office.  
• $22,000 is the average income for half of all Medicare beneficiaries.

"Increasingly, Idahoans are less prepared for their retirement, making Social Security and Medicare even more critical," added Wordelman.  "These issues are more than just numbers on a balance sheet - cuts to the programs will affect real people in Idaho, reducing benefit checks they rely on to pay the bills and increasing health care costs, while threatening access to doctors, hospitals and nursing homes."

County breakdown of Idahoans currently receiving Social Security and Medicare who could be affected by cuts to the programs:

*2009 Medicare beneficiaries

AARP has launched a nationwide Protect Seniors (www.aarp.org/protectseniors) campaign to engage the public in delivering a simple message to Congress on the issue: Take Social Security and Medicare cuts off the table.  In Idaho, AARP is reaching out to its 180,000 members across the state and urging them to contact their members of Congress directly by calling the Protect Seniors hotline (1-800-710-8049).

AARP is Idaho's largest membership organization with over 180,000 members.
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SOURCE AARP Idaho