Blog

• Illinois Retirees Call on Congress to Stand Up for Seniors, Prevent Giveaway to Drug Companies

  January 27, 2016: On September 23rd, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky joined with IARA members to call on Congress to stand up for consumers, taxpayers and seniors by opposing a special carve-out for drug companies. The pharmaceutical industry has attempted to secure a sp...Read more >

• Report from President Barbara Franklin

  January 01, 2016: Report from President Barbara Franklin This past year has been one of transition and growth for the Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans. On March 31st, we held our founding convention of IARA’s 501(c)(4). We are excited to make our first ...Read more >

• Drug Price Spikes Are Hurting Consumers and Medical Providers, Senators Told

  December 09, 2015: The Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing on off-patent drug price spikes on December 9, 2015. Americans spent $374 billion on prescription drugs last year. Witnesses provided insight into the causes of these drug price hikes in off-patent...Read more >

• End of Life: Medicare Will Cover Discussions

  December 08, 2015: A September 2015 Kaiser study showed that 89% of Americans surveyed support the idea that doctors should have end of life discussions with their patients. Further, 81% also believed that Medicare should cover those discussions. When Centers for Me...Read more >

• TPP Text Proves Seniors Are Right to Worry About Higher Prescription Drug Prices

  November 06, 2015: After months of secret negotiations, the Obama Administration released the text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal on Thursday. “Now that the final wording has been made public, we know that seniors are right to be worried about t...Read more >

• Republicans in U.S. House and Senate Plan Ways to Cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid

  November 06, 2015: [caption id="attachment_912" align="alignleft" width="150"] Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., center, speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2014, after a weekly policy luncheon. From left are, Sen. Roy Blunt...Read more >

• Seniors Left Vulnerable as Governor Rauner Threatens Medicaid Funding During Medicaid’s 50th Anniversary

  July 30, 2015: Chicago, IL- As retirees mark the 50th anniversary of Medicaid on Thursday, July 30th, Governor Rauner continues to attack basic services provided to thousands of seniors and working families across the state of Illinois. In February, the Governor...Read more >

• Statement by Retiree Leader Richard Fiesta on the 2015 Social Security and Medicare Trustees Reports

  July 22, 2015: The following statement was issued by Richard Fiesta, Executive Director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, regarding Trustees reports issued today on the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds: “The Social Security and Medicare trustees tod...Read more >

• Cooling Assistance for Low-Income Seniors Eliminated During Anniversary of Deadly Heat Wave

  July 20, 2015: CHICAGO, IL – Governor Bruce Rauner marked this month’s 20th anniversary of the Chicago heat wave by withholding funds that provide cooling assistance to the state’s most vulnerable residents. Many of the 1995 heat wave’s 739 fatalities we...Read more >

• Four Hundred Senior Activists to Descend on Washington This Week

  July 06, 2015: Washington, DC - Beginning on Tuesday, July 7, at 1:00 pm, four hundred activist members of the Alliance for Retired Americans from across the country will sharpen their political organizing and advocacy skills at a four-day conference at the Washing...Read more >