|
Dear John,
As negotiations heat up in Congress on the budget reconciliation package, some lawmakers are demanding that Medicare expansion to include dental, hearing and vision coverage be means tested. That would mean only beneficiaries who have annual incomes under $39,000 will be covered. Everyone else will be on their own without help to pay for these critically important health care services.
Here at the National Committee, we believe that all Americans pay into the system during their working years and deserve a quality health insurance program at all income levels. Means testing would set a bad precedent that would divide over 60 million beneficiaries into “haves” and “have-nots.” As a result, it would erode trust for the program and undermine the overwhelming bipartisan political support Medicare currently enjoys.
That’s why I’m counting on you to do the following TWO things today:
1. Sign our Urgent Petition to Congress to oppose means testing for new Medicare benefits that cover dental, hearing and vision care. As the debate on Medicare expansion heats up in Washington, DC, we want to ensure your elected officials see that thousands of their constituents have signed onto this petition. The more petitions in their inbox, the more seriously they will take this issue!
2. FOLLOW UP! Call the National Committee’s toll-free Legislative Hotline at (800) 998-0180. The Hotline will connect you directly with your members of Congress. Tell your Senators and Representative to reject means testing to ensure that all benefits, new or existing, are available to everyone on Medicare.
The National Committee has also sent letters to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi urging them to reject this dangerous ploy to means test new Medicare benefits as part of the final reconciliation package passed by Congress.
With so much at stake in the weeks ahead, we are devoting critical resources to passing budget reconciliation legislation in Congress that includes vital Medicare benefit improvements that are not limited by beneficiary income.
Please sign our Urgent Petition to Congress right now — and officially go on the record with your elected representatives about where you stand on means testing new Medicare benefits. We’re aiming for at least 50,000 signatures to make lawmakers sit up and take notice — so please help us reach this critical goal!
Sincerely,
|
2.png "tw"){kind=small}
