Standing Up for Seniors PDF Print E-mail

“It is imperative that we look for ways to strengthen Medicare and Social Security, particularly as the Baby Boomer generation continues to retire. You can count on me to oppose any plan that would cut benefits, raise the retirement age, cut seniors' annual cost of living adjustments, or other measures that would jeopardize the economic security of today's seniors and the future of Social Security and Medicare for the next generation of retirees. As a member of the Congressional Senior's Task Force, it is my mission to promote and raise the public’s awareness of policies under development in Congress that would improve the health and well-being of America’s seniors. Seniors are invaluable members of our community, and I will continue to defend the benefits seniors have rightfully earned to ensure their independence, dignity, and well-being.” –Maurice

  • Celebrating Social Security’s 75th Anniversary: This year marks the 75th anniversary of the creation of Social Security by President Franklin Roosevelt. Since that day 75 years ago, Social Security has proved to be a tremendous success by lifting millions of seniors and disabled Americans out of poverty. Maurice is committed to sustaining and strengthening this great program. Today, Social Security adds nothing to our country’s deficit, and according to the Social Security trustee report, the Social Security Trust Fund will be sustainable through 2037. While reforms are needed to ensure that Social Security last another 75 years, cutting benefits, raising the retirement age and privatizing the system should not be options.
  • Preserving Medicare Benefits: Medicare is a landmark public health insurance program that covers retirees and individuals with disabilities – more than 45 million Americans nationwide. Before Medicare was enacted, nearly half of all retirees were uninsured. Now, virtually all retirees have access to meaningful health coverage through Medicare. This year’s health care reform measure, which Maurice supported, strengthens Medicare and improves benefits with expanded home-based services to keep people in their homes instead of nursing homes, makes prescription drugs more affordable and provides free coverage for preventive health screenings. The health care law will also extend the solvency of Medicare and contains important new tools to help crack down on criminals seeking to scam seniors and steal taxpayer dollars. It reduces payment errors, waste, fraud and abuse to make Medicare more efficient and returns savings to the Trust Fund to strengthen Medicare for years to come. In 2009, $2.51 billion was returned to the Medicare Trust Fund as a result of increased protections against Medicare fraud and abuse.
  • Filling the “Donut Hole”: Those who fall into the Medicare part D "donut hole," a gap in prescription drug coverage, have already started receiving $250 rebate checks from the health care reform bill, and starting next year Medicare beneficiaries who fall into the "donut hole" will receive a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugs. Additional drug discounts will be phased in over time, saving a typical senior in the donut hole $700 in 2011 and over $3,000 by 2020.
  • Negotiating Prescription Drug Prices: Current law, which Maurice has long opposed and voted against, specifically forbids the federal government from trying to get the best deal for Medicare recipients. Today, Maurice is working to pass the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act, would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate prescription drug prices on behalf of Medicare Part D beneficiaries for the first time since 2004, a move that could save taxpayers $156 billion over ten years.

 

 

 
fp-button6fp-button5 fp-button1fp-button4 fp-button2 fp-button3