Democratic presidential candidate and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar on Friday introduced her “Plan for Seniors,” a set of policy proposals aimed at addressing health and financial concerns for senior citizens.
The broader goals of the plan — addressing Alzheimer’s disease, reducing prescription drug costs and retirement security protections — would be funded by closing trust fund loopholes that “allow the wealthy to avoid paying taxes on inherited wealth,” a news release said Friday.
“As President, Senator Klobuchar will continue to stand up for our seniors and the 10,000 Americans who turn 65 each day,” the news release said.
Klobuchar’s plan calls for “expanding resources” and financial support to the caregivers of those living with Alzheimer’s disease — the most common form of dementia — as well as an expansion of the Medicare-covered-services for the disease.
The plan would also “fully implement” legislation that helps families locate missing people with Alzheimer’s or developmental disabilities and promises “reliable and consistent” funding for dementia research.
“Senator Klobuchar will commit to preventing, treating and facilitating a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, with the goal of putting us on a path toward developing a cure and treatment by 2025,” the news release states.
To address the rise of prescription drug prices, Klobuchar’s plan outlines “immediate and aggressive action” including provisions to allow for the personal importation of prescription drugs from “safe” countries, and utilizing the government as a vehicle to “directly negotiate” lower prices.
For retirement security, the plan would raise the Social Security payroll cap and introduce “Up accounts” — personal savings accounts that mandate a minimum employer contribution of 50 cents per hour worked. Klobuchar’s plan also states broadly it would work to establish “a new refundable tax credit” for “those who are most in need of support.”
Klobuchar, who launched her presidential campaign in February, has struggled to emerge from the crowded Democratic primary. Her campaign held 2% support in CNN’s national presidential poll earlier this month.
