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Government or Gridlock? Why Your Voice is More Important Than Ever By Michael Ouellette, Legislative Director, TREA Senior Citizens League The next session of Congress does not promise to be easy. Not only have we just gone through an election that was almost a draw, but we have also witnessed the first 50-50 Senate tie in the nation`s history. There is a real danger that without voter input important legislation, like adding prescription drug benefits to Medicare, will become bogged down in partisan bickering. This indeed would be tragic when prescription drug and health care costs are climbing at what may prove to be historically high rates. More than 39 million Medicare recipients get no help from the program with their prescription drugs. Despite increases of 13-30% in the cost of Medigap supplemental insurance plans in 2001, and cost increases of 19-20% for prescription drugs, early estimates suggest that similar cost increases are on the way for next year as well, despite healthy profits reported in the drug and health care industries in 2000. A more accurate Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) is another way Congress can help seniors better withstand rising costs. Senior COLAs are determined by a Consumer Price Index (CPI) that doesn`t accurately reflect senior costs. Seniors would receive a more accurate COLA if it were indexed to a CPI for seniors, like the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E), which has been maintained by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for 17 years but never used. Passage of Notch Reform would help protect many of our nation`s most vulnerable seniors. Voters returned 192 Notch Reform supporters to Congress. Your continued pressure can help achieve the majority that is needed for passage of legislation to compensate Notch Babies. Seniors just cannot wait for help any longer. The need is too great. Gridlock does not have to be our only choice if both sides find enough areas they can agree on. By remaining in contact with Members of Congress by mail, e-mail, phone, and personal visits you provide important urgency for the need to help America`s seniors. We encourage you to write to your Members of Congress and let them know that seniors can`t wait any longer. This article first appeared in Volume 6, Issue 4 of "The Social Security and Medicare Advisor" newsletter (March/2001). To receive future editions of "The Advisor" in its special, free e-mail version, please click here. | ||||||||
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