- Rising healthcare costs, prescription drug prices, and long-term care expenses are creating severe financial stress for older Americans ahead of the midterm elections.
- An AARP poll shows that 83% of voters over age 50 are extremely motivated to vote, turning healthcare affordability into a primary issue for candidates.
- Medicare beneficiaries face substantial changes during open enrollment, including shifting plan availability and potential increases in out-of-pocket expenses.
- Family caregiving costs have risen nearly 60% over the last five years to an average of $11,508 annually, while high prescription costs force many seniors to consider rationing medication. “I've been thinking — if I could just do this every other day rather than every day to make the medicine last longer," Barbara Weigand said. "Isn't that sad?“
- Older voters are also worried about the solvency of Social Security. A 3.6% cost-of-living increase is slated for 2027, but lawmakers face mounting pressure to address a projected trust fund shortfall by 2034.
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