Urge Your U.S. Senators to Strengthen, Not Increase Cost of Medicare Benefits for Seniors and People With Disabilities: ONLINE PETITION

as shared by the the National Council on Aging

The U.S. Senate THIS WEEK will vote on a House bill (H.R. 2) that makes critical improvements in Medicare—but largely at the expense of people on the program. While the bill includes permanent fixes for physician payments and the Qualifying Individual (QI) program, half of the $70 billion needed to pay for it would come from increases in beneficiaries’ out-of-pocket costs. Please urge your Senators to support a modest, bipartisan amendment to make the bill more balanced by improving low-income protections and outreach, repealing arbitrary therapy caps, and extending ADRC funding.

Last month, the House of Representatives passed a bill (H.R. 2) that makes critical improvements in Medicare—but at the unfair expense of people on the program.

The good news is that the bill would:

• Permanently reform and avoid future cuts to physician payments
• Make permanent the Qualifying Individual (QI) program, which pays Part B premiums for certain low-income beneficiaries
• Extend for 2 years low-income outreach and enrollment funding at higher levels.

The bad news is that people with Medicare would have to shoulder more than their fair share of the cost. Half of the $70 billion needed to pay for the bill would come from increases in Medicare beneficiaries’ out-of-pocket costs. 

How You Can Help

Now it's the Senate's turn to vote - likely Tuesday April 14th. The Senate has a chance to make the bill better for seniors and people with disabilities. Please urge your Senators to support a modest, bipartisan amendment that would:

• Strengthen protections and outreach for poor, vulnerable beneficiaries with incomes below $18,000 
• Eliminate arbitrary restrictions on access to needed physical, occupational, and speech therapies
• Extend expiring funding for community-based Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) that help families stay together at home and reduce premature nursing home placement.

These provisions would lessen the blow of added costs on beneficiaries by improving access to needed services and making the bill more balanced.

Please use this form to email your Senators today to improve the House Medicare bill for seniors and people with disabilities.  Start by entering your contact information in the fields below. When you're finished, please share this alert with others in your state.

TO SIGN THE ONLINE PETITION: 

http://cqrcengage.com/ncoa/app/write-a-letter?0&engagementId=90133