VANDALIA, OHIO – MARCH 16: Former President Donald Trump speaks to his supporters during a rally. (Photo … [+]
The Republican Party Programmeorchestrated by former President Trump, is filled with guarantees for those it calls “our great seniors.” But there’s little or no real policy behind most of those campaign guarantees. And the document is filled with irreconcilable contradictions.
The program shall be the Republicans’ policy framework for the election 12 months and can emerge from the nominating convention, which shall be held July 15-18. It recognizes some essential needs of seniors and sets goals that may improve their quality of life and that of their families. But it does little to explain how Trump and Republicans plan to realize those goals.
Social Security
The document is filled with big guarantees akin to: “FIGHT AND PROTECT SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICINE WITHOUT CUTS, INCLUDING CHANGES TO THE RETIREMENT AGE.”
But that daring promise ignores a singular reality. Unless major changes are made, in a couple of decade the Social Security trust fund will only find the money for to pay about 78 percent of promised advantages. That means a typical retiree receiving about $1,900 a month in advantages would should see their payments reduced by greater than $400.
In other words, the promised “no cuts” will not be possible without comprehensive reforms. However, this system is totally silent on what these should appear like.
Health insurance
The same goes for Medicare. The platform guarantees “NO CUTS” but is silent on how the troubled hospital insurance trust fund Solvent.
There is one promise, nevertheless: “Republicans will protect Medicare finances from financial depletion caused by the Democrats’ plan to add tens of millions of new illegal immigrants to the Medicare rolls.”
But Undocumented immigrants will not be eligible for MedicareUndocumented employees must pay Medicare payroll taxes but cannot receive advantages. Therefore Strengthen Medicare funds, not weaken themAnd few Democrats support expanding Medicare advantages to undocumented people.
Immigration and care employees
Trump and his party’s relentless opposition to immigration is hurting seniors in other ways and creating massive inconsistency in this system. It follows a pattern of Trump’s first term in office.
On the one hand, they promise to shut the US borders to immigrants and initiate the “largest deportation program in American history.” On the opposite hand, they promise to “eliminate the barriers that lead to a shortage of nursing staff.” However, one among the principal causes of the shortage of nursing staff is, imagine it or not, restrictive immigration policy.
In the United States, 5.5 million vacant home care positions should be filled by 2031. in line with PHI International. But few native-born Americans need to do that low-paying and dangerous work. Where will these employees come from?
About a 3rd of currently licensed nurses are immigrants. Licensed nursing assistants, for instance, have work papers. However, an unknown but significant variety of gray market employees are undocumented. And many who work with green cards have relations who’re also undocumented.
Expelling foreign employees from the country will only exacerbate the shortage of caregivers, place even greater burdens on relations, endanger the health of frail elderly people, and drive much more people in need of long-term care out of their homes and into nursing homes – the precise opposite of what this system guarantees.
And they will not be just helpers. The research organization KFF reports that about half 1,000,000 trained nurses are immigrants, or one in six nurses within the United States. Nearly a 3rd of all hospitals report employing foreign-trained nurses.
Despite the platform’s promise to “work with our seniors to help them live active and healthy lives,” the GOP’s immigration policies will make their lives infinitely worse.
Tax credits
The platform also guarantees unspecified tax relief for family caregivers. This promise can be less substantial than it initially appears.
Tax credits are available in two flavors: refundable and non-refundable. Most are non-refundable, meaning they will not be available to low- and even middle-income households that don’t pay federal income tax. Refundable tax credits are more available but cost the Treasury more revenue and are generally opposed by Republicans.
And even in case you are eligible, the credits represent not more than a drop within the bucket for many frail older people and their families. A government credit could also be $750 or $1,000. But the Average annual cost of a house care employee is $75,000. And a nursing home can easily cost twice that.
primary care
The platform continues: “Republicans will advocate for a greater focus on chronic disease prevention and treatment, long-term care, and benefit flexibility. We will expand access to primary care and support policies that help seniors stay in their homes and maintain their financial security.”
All laudable goals. But what do they mean?
Focusing on long-term care is good, but it surely’s not a plan.
Another example: Access to basic services is essential. But given the serious shortage of general practitioners and nursing practitionersimproved access is a pipe dream.
How would Trump and a Republican Congress increase incentives for medical employees to enter primary care? Silence.
There’s loads more, but you get my point. Promising support for “our amazing seniors” is good. But without real, consistent policy ideas, it’s meaningless.
