You Earned This: The Social Security & Medicare Podcast!

Just in time for the holidays, some free advice on aging and enjoying life with family & friends from Dr. Erlene Rosowsky. She is a clinical psychologist at Harvard specializing in the field of  "geropsychology."  Her research and writings spring from a deep sense of empathy for seniors and their families. In this encore episode, she talks about "the stories we tell ourselves" and the importance o...

More of us will be living to 100 and beyond, says Bill Kole, author of "The Big 100." But do we want to? And how will we pay the bills for all those extra decades? What is the impact of "super aging" on Social Security?  Bill paints a picture of the coming centenarian boom and all of its implications - good & bad - in this lively and surprisingly fun episode! After all, where else can you hear a 1...

Meals on Wheels not only delivers hot, nutritious food to seniors --- it provides an important social connection to people who may be lonely or disconnected. Meals on Wheels even makes older people safer!  Meals on Wheels America's chief policy offer, Josh Protas, tells us all about this amazing program that, unfortunately, faces possible funding cuts.  As a historian, he also answers the question...

11-term congresswoman and member of House Democratic leadership Debbie Wasserman Schultz takes Trump and the GOP to task for making health coverage unaffordable. "Not having health insurance... kills people," she says. Wasserman Schultz rails against the Big Ugly Bill's massive cuts to Medicaid and the Republicans' refusal to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies.  She was among the lawmakers who p...

You may find yourself as the "financial caregiver" for an aging parent. Most people are thrust into this role with little preparation or warning.  Certified Financial Planner Beth Pinsker has written a new book, "My Mother's Money," bursting with great advice for adult children who --- sooner or later --- may need to take responsibility for their parents' finances. She was inspired to write the bo...

The Trump administration tried to make it harder for older workers to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), but backed down under public pressure. Kathleen Romig of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says this mean-spirited policy would have stripped coverage from 1.5 million disabled workers over 10 years. She also explains why the 2026 Social Security cost-of-living ad...

They say not to pay too much attention to off-year elections. But our political director, Luke Warren, says that 2025 might have been different.  He tells us what last week's results portend for 2026.  Luke also explains what we look for when our PAC endorses candidates for Congress. Hint: It has something to do with an unflinching committment to Social Security & Medicare that does not involve be...

Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) tells us that Trump and congressional Republicans are leaving people of modest means "in the dust" --- by jacking up health insurance costs while showering the wealthy with huge tax cuts. He's also worried about the future Medicare, as the disadvantages of Medicare Advantage become increasingly apparent and the Trump administration meddles with traditional Medicare in dist...

Pensions are quickly becoming a thing of the past, to the point where union members rely on Social Security like everyone else. The Alliance for Retired Americans advocates for the retirement security of all working people, including millions of union members.  Executive Director Rich Fiesta says that everyone has a stake in preserving Social Security... at a time when the most anti-union administ...

What can you do to reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's? And where are we with early detection and treatment? Dr. Heather Snyder of the Alzheimer's Association is here with news of exciting breakthroughs in the fight against a disease that afflicts 1 in 9 Americans.  She tells us about the blood test for early detection of Alzheimer's... and about treatment and prevention, including how life...

Dr. Erlene Rosowsky is a clinical psychologist at Harvard specializing in the field of aging --- or "geropsychology."  Her research and writings spring from a deep sense of empathy for seniors and their families. Today, she offers expert advice about aging --- including "the stories we tell ourselves" and the importance of humor.  "Dr. R" also has plenty to say about ageism and forming friendships...

Shahab and Walter answer your questions about Social Security & Medicare --- and we troll the trolls! Is it time to scrap the payroll wage cap? Is Social Security really running out of money? And how do you switch from Medicare Advantage to traditional Medicare? We take on the trolls who claim that Democrats want these programs "to fail" ---- and that Social Security is "going broke" because of "f...

We go behind the scenes of our new documentary film, "Social Security:  90 Years Strong." The story takes us from the 1930s, when Social Security was signed into law by FDR, to today --- when we are fighting to defend it from Trump & DOGE. Join director Walter Gottlieb, producer Melanie Reilly, and editor Marcie Robusto for a lively chat about the making of this landmark film! Plus --- some compel...

Do you want bots deciding what kind of health care you get? The Trump Administration is experimenting with using AI to determine whether patients in traditional Medicare can get the care they need.  This is an attempt to make the traditional program more like Medicare Advantage --- a glorified HMO that gets between you and your doctor. Our health policy expert, Anne Montgomery, explains why this i...

In our Season 3 premiere, Congressman Brendan Boyle (D-PA) excoriates the Trump administration  for gutting Medicaid, endangering Medicare, and monkeying with Social Security. Rep. Boyle says Trump is "too lazy to learn" how Social Security really works, allowing DOGE to run amok at the Social Security Administration . He also tells us that some 500,000 Pennsylvanians will lose health coverage bec...

Half of Medicare beneficiaries did not visit the dentist during the past year because they couldn't afford to.  Melissa Burroughs of the advocacy group Care Quest says neglecting oral health can contribute to serious health issues in older people --- including Alzheimer's, heart disease, and diabetes.  Worse yet, traditional Medicare does not cover routine dental care. As Melissa tells us, it's ti...

Jon "Bowzer" Bauman is best known for his 50s greaser character from the tv show "Sha Na Na." In addition to his career as an entertainer, Jon is an outspoken advocate for Social Security and Medicare! In this encore episode of the podcast, he tells us how we can save Americans' earned benefits during the Trump/DOGE regime.  We also hear how Bowzer went from Doo Wop revivalist to seniors' activist...

David Tatel was the nation's first blind federal judge. He has written a new book entitled "Vision," offering reminisences from his time on the bench --- and wisdom for any older person who wants to live life to the fullest. Plus, everything you need to know about David's faithful service dog, Vixen! Enjoy this encore episode featuring a senior living with a major disability who made a major contr...

Tom Harkin is very concerned about the future of Social Security. In this episode, the former U.S. Senator and one-time presidential candidate says seniors and their advocates must go on OFFENSE to protect the program from Donald Trump & DOGE. Otherwise, he says, they will "terminate Social Security as we know it." The Senator also sees nefarious motives behind DOGE's getting access to Americans'...

Let's face it--- 2024 was a better year for Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid than 2025. Here are highlights from last year's podcast for your enjoyment, featuring host Walter Gottlieb and VIP guests: Jim Roosevelt (Grandson of FDR); Dr. S. Jay Olshanksy (aging expert - University of Illinois); Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI); Michael Hiltzik (Columnist, Los Angeles Times); David Tatel (Retir...

Just in time for your retirement... Trump and the Republicans are messing with Medicare. They're trying to turn into a privatized program like Medicare Advantage. Also, the recent "Unfair, Ugly Bill" could trigger Medicare cuts down the road. Medicare Rights Center President Fred Riccardi tells us it's a time to be concerned for the future of these programs --- and take action to defend them... in...

In this special episode from April, 2025, host Walter Gottlieb and digital media manager Shahab Shokouhi answer your questions & school the trolls from our Facebook page. Questions include:  Will Social Security still be there for me? How much money is in the trust fund? And when will people formerly limited by WEP & GPO get their checks?  We also answer the Facebook trolls who insist we are "comm...

Ann Crittenden was a correspondent for the New York Times in the late 70s and early 80s. She left the paper to care for her newborn son --- and later become an advocate for the millions of Americans who stay at home to care for kids, elderly parents, or other relatives in need. Author of the 2001 best-seller, "The Price of Motherhood," Ann says it's finally time that our society placed more value...

Former Social Security Commissioner Martin O'Malley worked hard to improve customer service at the Social Security Administration --- only to see Trump, Musk & DOGE interefere in the agency and reverse the significant progress of O'Malley and his team.  Beneficiaries can't get through on the 1-800 number, SSA's website is crashing, and people are being declared 'dead' while very much alive. O'Mall...

In this encore episode, AARP's chief public policy expert, Dr. Debra Whitman, says we shouldn't fear older age, but embrace it. She has released a new book about how life after 50 can be fulfilling and rewarding.  But for everyone to age more securely, we must defeat ageism --- which costs our country socially and financially! In this episode, Dr. Whitman shares helpful insights for aging American...