Open Congressional seats? Do NOT support any candidate who will not defend [View all]

[eridani]

--Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid.

Get your organization (or better yet, coalition) to ask all candidates sign a pledge.

Pledge to Defend Medicare

Since 1965, Medicare has given America’s seniors access to health care which only the wealthier senior demographic could pay for before it was implemented. It covers all needed care, and is frugally administered with only 3% administrative expenses.

In the interests of my constituents – the men, women and children who are Medicare’s current and future beneficiaries – I pledge to:

• Oppose unconditionally the Ryan/Wyden proposal to incrementally turn Medicare into a voucher program; and
• Oppose unconditionally any proposal to raise the Medicare eligibility age; and
• Oppose any and all efforts to reduce the federal deficit on the backs of the sickest and most vulnerable members of our population.


Signed ___________________________________

Date: _____________________________________

Dear candidate:

Medicare is currently under attack by many in Congress, and seniors in your district are very concerned that this vital program remain intact and not be subject to cuts which force more cost sharing for the sickest and most vulnerable members of this population.

The Ryan/Wyden plan to gradually voucherize Medicare means that the program as we know it will be destroyed. A coupon for a discount to be applied to the same kind of insurance that the elderly could not afford before Medicare was enacted will only result in the elimination of access to health care for significant numbers of older people.

In addition, some have proposed increasing Medicare eligibility from age 65 to 67. Not only will this bankrupt more people, but it will not even save money. Studies have shown that, relative to those with insurance before age 65, those without insurance prior to Medicare eligibility spent much more money on health care after they became Medicare eligible. In other words, people wait to get care until their Medicare kicks in. This is bad both for health and for the federal government’s bottom line.

We are requesting that you sign the enclosed pledge to defend Medicare.

Sincerely,
(Your organization here)