Golden years turning to lead?

The nation's two largest benefit programs, Medicare and Social Security, have eroded due to the recession and will run out of money earlier than expected, according to a new government report.

Medicare, the government health care program for seniors, is projected to run out of money in 2017, two years earlier than the government had predicted a year ago.

"It has literally tens of trillions of dollars of unfunded liability," said Bill Beach, director of the Center for Data Analysis at the Heritage Foundation.

He spoke with Greg Corombos of Radio America/WND. The audio of the exchange is embedded here:

TRENDING: Public school has failed American kids: Student with 0.13 GPA ranks near top half of class

"We need a Medicare program that allows seniors, those who are getting it, to shop around, to find a doctor, to find a provider, to be aware of the prices that they're paying," continued Beach.

"In every other walk of life, in every other thing we buy, from houses to a tube of toothpaste, we know the price."

Social Security, the government assistance program for seniors and the disabled, will start spending more money than it receives in 2016 and is projected to become insolvent by 2037, four years earlier than trustees predicted a year ago.

What's the best path to bringing the costs of Social Security under control as the Baby Boomers reach eligibility?

"Make sure the benefits go up no faster than inflation," suggests Beach.

"If you just did that one thing alone, you would solve 60 percent of the unfunded liability, the finacial problem of Social Security."