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Simona Combi
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Sep. 11, 2025, Arlington, VA—The following is a statement from Ramsey Alwin, President and CEO of the National Council on Aging (NCOA), on the recently released Make our Children Healthy Again strategy. 

“Good health is the foundation for well-being across the lifespan. While we wholeheartedly support efforts to prevent chronic conditions in children, a truly healthy America requires us to also embrace and support the older adults who already experience chronic disease.” 

More than 11,000 Americans are turning 65 every day until 2027, and they are likely to live two or three decades longer. Helping them maintain or improve their health will make our nation healthier and keep health care costs down. 

“Nearly 80% of older adults have two or more chronic or mental health conditions, which are the leading drivers of the nation’s $4.9 trillion in annual health care costs. Chronic conditions can limit a person’s ability to cook, bathe, and perform other daily activities, causing many to lose their independence. Diabetes and hypertension are among the costliest chronic diseases for this age group in out-of-pocket costs for treatment plus lost wages.  

“Obesity and falls among older Americans also demand attention. The lifetime costs of obesity for a 65-year-old is over $22,000. And falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries for older Americans, at a cost of $80 billion in 2020. 

“The good news is we have proven, low-cost ways to make older Americans healthier. Chronic disease self-management programs educate older adults about how to keep their symptoms under control. They can save $364 per person and have the potential to save $6.6 billion if they reached just 10% of Americans with one or more chronic conditions. 

Falls prevention programs help older adults maintain their strength and independence. An upcoming NCOA report shows that these programs reduce the number of falls and resulting injuries by more than 50% and cut potential emergency room visits by 18%.  

Finally, Medicare coverage of the full range of obesity treatments—medications, nutrition counseling, and all proven behavioral interventions—would go a long way in reducing the devastating impact of obesity.  

“We are pleased that the Senate Committee on Appropriations retained funding for chronic disease and falls prevention programs in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. We urge the House of Representatives to do the same. We also support the newly introduced Treat and Reduce Obesity Act. 

“We look forward to working with the administration and our nation’s policymakers to scale the programs that we know are proven to make older Americans healthy.” 

About NCOA
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is the national voice for every person’s right to age well. Working with thousands of national and local partners, we provide resources, tools, best practices, and advocacy to ensure every person can age with health and financial security. Founded in 1950, we are the oldest national organization focused on older adults. Learn more by following us at @NCOAging.