08.31.2021 / Statement

Now is the time for Congress to side with seniors, strengthen Medicare

Washington, D.C. – Frederick Isasi, Executive Director of Families USA, issued the following statement regarding today’s release of the Medicare trustees report.

“Today’s Medicare trustees report makes it painfully clear that this is the moment to strengthen Medicare for America’s seniors. Tens of millions of older adults and people with disabilities rely on Medicare for their health coverage, and we have a national responsibility to ensure that they know they will be able to count on the program for years to come. The budget bill Congress is currently debating should close tax giveaways that drain Medicare of much-needed funding and strengthen the program by ensuring older adults have their dental care covered by Medicare.

“Congress has an opportunity in front of them to go big for people across the country by lowering health care costs— and voters need and want them to take it. No one should have to choose between going to the doctor or dentist and paying for prescriptions or groceries. But too many self-interested politicians will try to make excuses about why we can’t do this. The very same Republicans who voted to endanger Medicare’s future with $2 trillion tax cuts for billionaires and corporate CEOs are now wringing their hands instead of acting in the long-term best interests of our most vulnerable seniors.