Op-ed Written by Congressman Lee Zeldin (NY-01)
(Long Island, NY) Living out one’s golden years to the max can come with its share of challenges, especially as it relates to healthcare, which is why fighting for our seniors and improving their quality of care must always be a top priority in America.
Whether at meetings in my Long Island office, across the district at my mobile office hours, or at various other events in Suffolk, I have met with seniors struggling with balancing health challenges and a fixed income. Many cite a lack of healthcare options and the difficulty in gaining access to quality and affordable healthcare as a result of Obamacare. There are also serious concerns over the solvency of Social Security and Medicare, which many seniors rely on for both financial and healthcare security. As health challenges arise, and seniors are budgeting based on a fixed income, we should do everything that we can to ensure that those who need medical care and attention are able to access quality care at an affordable price without having to jump through hoops. They also should be assured that the programs and benefits they rely on will always be there for them.
Obamacare has significantly impacted our seniors and their access to quality and affordable care. I frequently hear concerns about lost doctors, cancelled policies, and higher premiums and deductibles. Earlier this year, Congress passed the Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act, which would repeal many of the flawed major provisions under Obamacare over a period of two years, specifically many of the harmful mandates and taxes, so that we can increase seniors’ access, without compromising quality of care or efficiency. It is important to improve the quality of health care in our country for our nation’s seniors.
Congress has also taken action to improve Medicare. Over the past year, the House passed a number of bills to strengthen Medicare, including the Protecting Seniors’ Access to Medicare Act, the Medicare Beneficiary Preservation of Choice Act, and the Medicare Advantage Enrollment bill; all proposals that would protect and preserve Medicare for the seniors who rely on it, as well as restore and expand the Medicare open enrollment period. The House also took action and made significant reforms to Social Security and Medicare, saving millions of seniors from significantly increased healthcare costs. Working in a bipartisan fashion, Congress was able to stave off a massive premium hike for seniors who utilize Medicare Part B. Without this action, approximately 8 million seniors across the country would have been subject to a 52% premium hike for Medicare Part B. In a bipartisan effort, action was taken to prevent a 20% across the board cut to social security disability benefits.
Moreover, working across the aisle with my colleagues in the House, we were able to repeal the Sustainable Growth Rate formula, also known as the “Doc Fix,” to prevent a 20% cut to Medicare. This action alone has been seen as the most significant Medicare reform that has taken place in years. Without this legislation, which is now law, many doctors would have simply stopped accepting new Medicare patients, or even cease to accept Medicare all together.
Congress has also been committed to passing legislation and securing funding to expand seniors’ access to the most innovative technologies and treatments so that we can diagnose and treat diseases as early as possible. Last year, the House passed the 21st Century Cures Act, bipartisan legislation that I cosponsor in Congress to improve and modernize our nation’s healthcare. This legislation would accelerate the process for scientific advancement, while providing desperately needed research funding so that we can provide the next generation of cures.
It is our duty as Americans to always protect and improve the quality of life and care for our nation’s seniors. If assistance is ever needed with a federal issue or any questions exist about Social Security or Medicare, the phone number at my Long Island office is (631) 289-1097.
Congressman Lee Zeldin represents the First Congressional District of New York.
