Editorial voices from elsewhere
Editorial voices from newspapers around the United States:
Until just recently, autumn has offered us a reprieve from chilly temperatures and rainy days. What cannot be avoided is the arrival of flu season, which typically runs from mid-October through mid-May.
Public health officials strongly urge anyone 6 months and older to get vaccinated ahead of flu season, even if you were vaccinated last year. The vaccine is updated each year to adapt to new mutations of the virus. The most susceptible to influenza are the elderly, children 2 and younger and pregnant women.
When you take the time to get immunized, you’re protecting not only yourself, but also family members, friends, co-workers – the general population. As many as 200,000 Americans are hospitalized each year from influenza-related issues like respiratory illness and heart conditions. An untold number of Americans die from these symptoms.
It’s true getting a flu shot won’t guarantee you won’t get sick, but studies cited by the CDC show it can reduce the risk of the flu illness by about 50 to 60 percent among the overall population, depending on how well it matches the strain of the virus in circulation.
Getting a flu shot is now quick, convenient and affordable, if not free. Most importantly, it’s an effective way to stay healthy.
Millions of Social Security recipients were disappointed again this year with the news of their 2017 cost-of-living adjustment.
Of course, it’s designed by the federal government to be essentially a wash, since it’s tied to a broad price index generated the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
If prices drop or remain level, there’s no cost-of-living increase. If prices rise, the rate of that increase is matched by a raise in benefits.
Though they’ll hardly notice it, the 70 million or so Americans who receive Social Security will see an increase of 0.3 percent, about $4 a month. That’s a departure from recent years, when recipients received no increases.
This isn’t merely some statistical analysis for federal numbers crunchers. The fallout is profound, given the growing reliance on Social Security for retirement income.
According to the Social Security Administration, nearly 50 percent of retired married couples and 70 percent of single seniors rely on Social Security for at least 50 percent of their income.
And as we’re all well aware, that Social Security pot continues to dwindle, because the number of workers can’t keep up with the increase of retirees, because of changes in demographics.
According to Social Security’s own estimates, without an increase in payroll taxes, the ability to pay recipients full benefits will cease in 2037, when the trust fund’s reserves are expected to run out. At that point, tax collections will only be able to pay about 75 percent of that total.
So for younger workers, who will likely pay more in taxes and receive less in retirement, you’ve been given fair warning. Make those full contributions to that IRA or 401(k), because you can’t rely on Social Security.
President Obama’s 2010 triumph, the Affordable Care Act, has brought health insurance to around 20 million more Americans.
Now the GOP is crowing because Aetna, Humana and United Health, disappointed by lack of profits, will reduce their participation in ACA internet exchanges offering coverage to the public, mostly in rural areas.
Well, good riddance. The health of Americans shouldn’t be at the mercy of greedy commercial insurers. Medical care should be a human right for everyone.
Now is a perfect time to expand the ACA with a “public option” – low-cost, government-run insurance competing against for-profit insurers.
This proposal is endorsed by the 2016 Democratic national platform.
We’re confident that complete universal health insurance someday will cover every American — similar to national plans in other democracies. Such systems reduce medical costs by wiping out commercial insurance overhead expense. The sooner the better.