AFL-CIO Report: Medicaid, Social Security at risk

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) - A state labor organization says the looming fiscal cliff could impact more than one million people here in Massachusetts.

If Congress doesn't reach a deal before the end of the year, Medicaid and Social Security benefits will be at risk for thousands of people in Massachusetts.

The AFL-CIO report says cuts to Social Security could affect 187,000 people with disabilities. And of the 1.5 million people who get Medicaid in the state, more than 600,000 children and seniors will see a change in their care. 
    
50 to 80 seniors come into the Northampton Council on Aging center every month seeking assistance with their health care benefits. Many of their programs could be at risk.

According to Crystal Cote, the assistant director at Northampton Council on Aging, “They are entitled through wellness benefits, through Medicare and those are things that would be at risk of being cut in 2013.”

Rosene Perez of Northampton told 22News, “Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid shouldn't be touched because a lot of people depend on these services.”

The labor organization says Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid combined bring in $39 billion into the state's economy each year.