Sanders Hails Medicare and Medicaid on their 40th Anniversary; Calls for Strengthening Programs and Improving Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit

Sanders Hails Medicare and Medicaid on their 40th Anniversary; Calls for Strengthening Programs and Improving Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit
7/29/2005

Rep. Bernard Sanders hailed tomorrow's 40th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid as an historic milestone for social justice in America and as cause to renew efforts protect and defend these landmark programs from attack.

"Both Medicare and Medicaid are great American success stories," Rep. Sanders stated. "It is easy to forget what life was like before them. Tens of millions of seniors and persons with disabilities are able to live lives of dignity today because of the strong and consistent benefits in the traditional Medicare program. Medicaid was a dramatic step forward in guaranteeing healthcare for the most vulnerable in our society, including low-income children, pregnant women, and the frail and poor elderly."

Medicare provides near universal coverage for nearly 42 million Americans, including more than 35 million seniors and 6 million people under 65 with disabilities. Medicaid provides health coverage for 58 million Americans - including 28 million children, 16 million parents, and 15 million elderly and disabled individuals.

"Unfortunately, after four decades of immeasurable service to the American people, these programs are under attack by those who would privatize Medicare and block grant Medicaid," Sanders said. "I will continue to fight against these never-ending attempts to reduce benefits for Medicare beneficiaries, line the pockets of private insurance companies, and to cut the budget for Medicaid."

"I will also continue to fight to make dramatic improvements in the flawed prescription drug plan that has already caused so much confusion due to its inconsistent and deficient coverage. While it does offer significant benefits for low-income people who qualify for special benefits, the sad truth is that, as currently written, the majority of Medicare beneficiaries will see little or no relief from skyrocketing drug costs under this new trillion-dollar program," Sanders said.

"I will honor the 40th anniversary of Medicare by renewing my efforts to increase the prescription drug benefit to the same levels as the rest of the program, and by saving Medicare significant money by giving the government authority to negotiate lower prices with drug companies and allowing the reimportation of safe and affordable prescription drugs from abroad."

http://bernie.house.gov/documents/releases/20050729164728.asp