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Affordable healthcare should be available to all Americans. While there is debate in Washington on how best to achieve this, I support legislation to give patients greater choice in selecting their healthcare coverage. I support increasing healthcare plan competition to benefit consumers as seen in the federal Employee Health Benefit Program, and expansion of Medical Savings Accounts (MSA's). Also, I support the Fair Care for the Uninsured Act, that would provide individuals with a tax credit equal to the typical cost of health insurance, to help pay for health insurance.
For our nation's seniors, I will continue to work to ensure that Medicare provides the best possible care. We have a moral obligation to fulfill Medicare's promise of health care security for America's seniors -- and we will. We must build upon the strong foundation that has served us so well since 1965 and protect and improve Medicare so that it is best able to meet the needs of our seniors in this new century.
On November 22, 2003, the House of Representatives, with my support, passed the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003 (H.R 1). The prescription drug program in this act represents the most important expansion of benefits for our elderly, since the creation of Medicare in 1965. H.R. 1 provides real relief for seniors; those who paid full retail prices have seen their prescription drug spending reduced by as much as 25 percent, and their overall out-of-pocket spending by as much as 77 percent in exchange for a premium that now averages about $22 per month, down from the original estimate of $35 per month. Low-income seniors have most of their prescription drug costs covered by the new benefit.
Since the program began in January 2006, 39 million Americans are now participating in the Medicare prescription drug plan. Florida’s 21st Congressional District is leading the state of Florida and ranked among the top three Congressional Districts in the country in Medicare beneficiaries signed-up for prescription drug coverage (Medicare Part D). According to recent figures 88% of Medicare beneficiaries in Florida’s 21st Congressional District have signed up for a Medicare prescription drug plan.
For our children, specifically those who do not receive insurance through their parents' employer, I support states receiving federal matching funds through the Medicaid program and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Unfortunately, legal immigrant children are banned from receiving these federal funds. I believe this is totally unacceptable, as these are some of the most vulnerable members of our society. Therefore, I have sponsored H.R. 1308, the Legal Immigrant Children's Health Improvement Act. My legislation, which has the support of over 200 national, state, and local organizations, would restore the states' option to obtain federal matching funds to provide health care for this extraordinarily fragile population.
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