• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Donate Now
  • Sign Up

Center for Medicare Advocacy

Advancing Access to Medicare and Healthcare

  • Eligibility/Enrollment
  • Coverage/Appeals
    • Medicare Costs (2020 & 2021)
    • Self Help Materials – Toolkits & More
  • Topics
    • Basic Introduction to Medicare
    • COVID-19 and Medicare
    • Medicare Costs (2020 & 2021)
    • Home Health Care
    • Improvement Standard and Jimmo News
    • Nursing Home / Skilled Nursing Facility Care
    • Outpatient Observation Status
    • Part B
    • Part D / Prescription Drug Benefits
    • Medicare for People Under 65
    • Medicare “Reform”
    • All Other Topics
    • Resources
      • Infographics
  • Publications
    • CMA Alerts
    • Fact Sheets & Issue Briefs
    • Infographics
    • The Medicare Handbook
    • SNF Enforcement Newsletter
    • Elder Justice Newsletter
    • Medicare Facts & Fiction
    • Articles by Topic
  • Litigation
    • Litigation News
    • Cases
    • Litigation Archive
    • Amicus Curiae Activities
  • Newsroom
    • Press Releases
    • Editorials & Letters to the Editor
    • CMA Comments, Responses, and Letters
    • Medicare Facts & Fiction
    • CMA in the News
  • About Us
    • Mission Statement
    • CMA FAQs
    • Personnel & Boards
    • The Center for Medicare Advocacy Founder’s Circle
    • Connecticut Dually Eligible Appeals Project
    • Ossen Medicare Outreach, Education and Advocacy Project
    • National Medicare Advocates Alliance
    • National Voices of Medicare Summit
    • CMA Webinars
    • Products & Services
    • Testimonials
    • Career, Fellowship & Internship Opportunities
    • Contact Us
  • Support Our Work
    • Donate Now
    • Join the Center for Medicare Advocacy Founder’s Circle
    • Take Action
    • Share Your Health Care Story
    • Tell Congress to Protect Our Care
    • Listen to Medicare & Health Care Stories
    • Sign Up

Candidates: Don’t Forget Medicare

September 24, 2020

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

As the nation prepares for the November election and debates, health care news and concerns are understandably dominated by COVID-19.  Amid the pandemic, the Center for Medicare Advocacy urges candidates to remember the increased need for health care coverage and access to care. Specifically, don’t forget that Medicare remains the primary source of health care coverage for 62 million older people and people with disabilities.

Candidates should answer the call to preserve and improve the core Medicare program and those it serves. Voters need answers to the following questions:

  • Payroll Tax Cuts – The President has announced a temporary suspension of payroll taxes that fund the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds, and said he wants to make the cuts permanent, which could lead to the de-funding of these programs. Are you in favor of defunding Social Security and Medicare? If elected, what are you going to do to stabilize Medicare and Social Security for current and future generations?
  • Privatization – Private “Medicare Advantage” plans cost taxpayers more money than traditional Medicare and include less choice of health care providers. Are you in favor of increasing privatization of Medicare?
  • Covid-19 – The Federal Government’s hands-off approach to regulating nursing homes has been widely reported as contributing to the loss of life in these facilities from COVID–19. What will you do to enhance nursing home infection-control rules and staffing requirements, and to protect residents, staff, and their families?
  • Drug Pricing – During the last campaign, President Trump said he favored allowing Medicare to negotiate the price of prescription drugs in the way that the V.A. does because it would save billions for taxpayers, Medicare, and Medicare beneficiaries. The House of Representatives passed a bill to require this, but the Senate didn’t act. If elected, will you support a bill authorizing Medicare to negotiate drug prices?  What will you do to bring down the high costs of prescription drugs for individuals and the Medicare program?

Candidates should not simply repeat talking points. The health care of millions depends on the answers to these questions.

Filed Under: Article, Press Release Tagged With: Medicare Reform, The Fight

Primary Sidebar

Easy Access to Understanding Medicare

The Center for Medicare Advocacy produces a range of informative materials on Medicare-related topics. Check them out:

  • Medicare Basics
  • CMA Alerts
  • CMA Webinars
  • Connecticut Info & Projects
  • Health Care Stories
  • Se habla Español

Sign Up for CMA Alerts

Jimmo v. Sebelius

Medicare covers skilled care to maintain or slow decline as well as to improve.

Improvement Isn’t Required. It’s the law!

Read more.

Latest Tweets

  • Our statement with @CANHR_CA and the Michigan Elder Justice Initiative recommends key issues of the Nursing Home Re… https://t.co/9nSwt3tAwT, Jan 15
@CMAorg

Footer

Stay Connected:

  • Contact Us
  • Sitemap
  • Products & Services
  • Copyright/Privacy

© 2021 · Center for Medicare Advocacy