What's the Verdict for Aging Policies in the Midterms?

The midterms underscored aging issues such as keeping the Affordable Care Act (ACA), considering Medicare for All proposals, and reducing prescription drug costs, reports Next Avenue . The outcomes strengthened the prospects for the last item. Meanwhile, CNN exit polls focused on demographics estimated that 48 percent of voters 65 and older and 49 percent of those 45 to 64 identified themselves as Democrats, while 50 percent of both groups called themselves Republicans. "By contrast, in the 2014 midterms, 41 percent of House of Representative voters 65+ and 45 percent of those 45 to 64 were Democrats," writes columnist Bob Blancato. Medicare's progress thanks to the ACA will likely continue, and House Democrats may use their new majority to build more support for Medicare for All. However, the reinstatement of the "pay as you go" rule, which mandates offsetting revenue losses with spending cuts, in the next federal fiscal year could cause sequestration to revive. The result? Across-the-board budget cuts for federal programs and agencies, Blancato warns. Addressing high prescription drug prices will be a top priority for Democrats, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) stated on Wednesday.