News Release
“Tonight’s State of the Union address served as a vivid reminder of what the Biden administration has accomplished in two short years to improve health care for American seniors. The President was right to take a victory lap in his speech for the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act — one of the most significant pieces of legislation benefitting seniors in many years. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare beneficiaries are paying no more than $35 per month for insulin where they may have spent $1,000 or more in the past. The Inflation Reduction Act enables Medicare to finally negotiate drug prices with Big Pharma, which should bring down prescription costs for seniors.
Older Americans already are benefitting from the Biden administration’s new FDA rule allowing hearing aids to be sold over the counter. At a time when hearing aids can cost several thousand dollars per pair, this rule has enabled seniors of modest financial means to buy hearing aids without prescriptions, medical exams, or fittings.
We strongly support the President’s call for 11 holdout states to expand Medicaid coverage to include people earning up to 133% of the federal poverty line. This would allow more low-income Medicare beneficiaries to become dually eligible for Medicaid. There is plenty more to be done to improve seniors’ health care, including expanding Medicare to include hearing, dental and vision coverage, which the President admirably attempted in the previous Congress. With a divided 118th Congress, these reforms are less likely, but no less important to the health and well-being of older Americans.” – Max Richtman, President and CEO, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
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The National Committee, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization acts in the interests of its membership through advocacy, education, services, grassroots efforts and the leadership of the Board of Directors and professional staff. The work of the National Committee is directed toward developing better-informed citizens and voters.
Media Inquiries to:
Walter Gottlieb 202-276-9089