Health Care Crisis for Seniors

The Medicare program is in need of an update. I find it shameful that Congress's answer to Medicare reform is to place more cuts and burdens on the senior citizens of this country. These are the people who lived through the depression, and are still struggling in most cases. Their health care costs are out of control leaving them strapped trying to afford the essentials of daily life. This seems very unfair and a disservice to those that have worked so hard to make this country what it is. When we begin to leave them behind, it is a sad day in America.

The Medicare program with the options that seniors have today has made great improvements to the health care that seniors receive. With a program such as the Part D prescription coverage and the Medicare Advantage program seniors have not only affordable health care, but flexible as well. The Medicare Advantage program is providing the opportunity for those with little health care needs to have a much lower premium, while still having a manageable co pay. This helps to alleviate the large percentage that they faced with traditional Medicare. It is also providing flexible and affordable prescriptions options for seniors. This is a must for any health care program aimed at seniors.

Medicare Part D is moving prescriptions forward. Before the Medicare Part D program was enacted, seniors were going without their medications. They are still dealing with yearly caps and limits, but are able to receive their medications for very little, many times with no co pay at all. This makes affording other necessities on a limited income much easier. Most seniors are getting by on Social Security. This leaves very little to afford the high costs of medications. The Medicare Advantage program and Part D prescription plan is moving seniors into a world of affordable health care. There is still work to be done, but we are finally on the right track to providing for our seniors in the manner that they deserve.

With the greatest of health care needs, seniors should be able to have adequate healthcare coverage. They currently are receiving this from companies like Aetna, Humana Anthem and more. This will only continue if Congress continues to provide the necessary funding for Medicare. With the new Congressional year approaching, I hope that Congress will remember our seniors, and continue to provide for them. You can help this by writing your representatives and senator letting them know that our seniors are valuable to us and we will not let them pass a slap stick legislation that will funnel money from Medicare into their own pet projects.