Washington, D.C. -— Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-Lillington), the only North Carolina member of the House Ways and Means Committee, met yesterday with more than 100 Raleigh senior citizens at the YWCA to discuss the health care reform proposals which would have direct impact on them and are currently being debated in Congress.
“I’m working to address the three biggest crises facing our health care system for seniors,” Etheridge said. “Congress must pass reform solutions so seniors will receive free preventive care, lower prescription drug costs, and expanded access to doctors.”
As Congress debates reforms to our nation’s health insurance system, seniors and those close to retirement age have been understandably concerned about reform’s impact on Medicare coverage and benefits. Since its inception in 1965, Medicare has provided high-quality, affordable health care to our nation’s senior citizens. However, rising health care costs, gaps in recommended services, and the threat of insolvency undermine Medicare’s stability. Without reform for all Americans, health care costs will keep rising and seniors will see Medicare payments consume a larger amount of their Social Security benefit.
Etheridge believes health care must tackle these three critical reforms for seniors:
“There are a lot of misunderstandings about current health reform proposals, and I want to say clearly that I will not support reform that cuts Medicare benefits for seniors,” Etheridge said. “We have a moral obligation to ensure our seniors have the best care our medical system can offer.”