Seniors And Health Care Reform

Floor Speech

(Mr. BILIRAKIS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, in my State of Florida, millions of seniors rely on Medicare for their health care, including 130,000 in my district alone.

On Monday, I held my annual seniors' health fair, which provides free health screenings to area seniors and which gives me an opportunity to continue getting their input on health care reform.

The overwhelming consensus from seniors in my district is that the Democrats' health care reform proposals would lead to fewer choices, to higher costs and to reduced quality. Of particular concern to many of the seniors I spoke with was whether they would be able to keep their existing coverage.

The House bill calls for $163 billion in cuts to Medicare Advantage, which is wildly popular with Florida seniors. The cuts will result in health care providers dropping out of the program, undermining choice and jeopardizing the more than 50,000 seniors in the Ninth District who rely on Medicare Advantage for their care.

We must not harm the health care seniors already receive.

Source