The future of Medicare is expected to be a hot-button issue in the November presidential election, and the American Association of Retired People (AARP) is pushing an initiative to ensure those over age 50 have a seat at the table.

James Wall, a retired health care administrator and the volunteer president of the 1.1 million member-strong N.C. chapter of the AARP, addressed several dozen individuals at the Senior Advocacy annual meeting in Waynesville recently.

Wall told the group the massive growth in the Medicare program — from $7.5 billion annually in 1970 to $550 billion today, is testimony that something needs to change. But the organization is not ready to sign off on a premium support program, or a voucher system, and the organization members bristle when Medicare is referred to an ...