BROOKLYN - Thirty-seven years ago on July 1st, Medicare, the first-ever government operated health insurance program for seniors in America, took effect.  Congressman Towns released the following statement to commemorate profound and positive impact Medicare has had on the lives of nearly all Americans. 
 
“Medicare was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson on July 30, 1965, with the support of Democrats in Congress, and on July 1, 1966, millions of seniors across this nation began to enjoy the guaranteed health care and protection that Medicare offers,” said Rep. Ed Towns (D-NY) today.
 
“In the almost four decades since, millions more of our elderly and disabled citizens have come to depend on Medicare for essential and lifesaving services.  Medicare now directly aids nearly one-seventh of America.  Additionally, Medicare indirectly benefits younger people by relieving them of heavy financial responsibility when an elderly member of the family encounters major health expenses,” continued the Congressman.
 
“However, there is a new chapter being written in Medicare's success story, and it is clouded by Republican efforts to dismantle the current Medicare system instead of building on its success.  Republicans have been vocal about their desire to privatize the Medicare program and force seniors out of traditional Medicare into private insurance plans that make no promises to seniors about quality and price.  They are using the need for a prescription drug benefit as a bait and switch to sign seniors on to their drug plan while privatizing Medicare,” said Towns. 

  "Seniors should have guaranteed access to an affordable, voluntary prescription drug plan that is available whether you live in the city or the country.  That is what Democrats have been fighting for and will continue to fight for until seniors have a prescription drug benefit they can rely on."