NEW YORK, NY – Congressman Charles Rangel said that on this Mother’s Day, he and his Democratic colleagues are re-committing themselves to the effort to preserve Medicare.  “Democrats will fight to protect and save Medicare, which is critical to America’s moms and grandmothers,” said Rangel.

“1.6 million women in New York State count on Medicare,” pointed out Rangel.  “Older women, on average, live longer than men, have lower incomes than men, and have more chronic health conditions than men – making Medicare even more vital to their wellbeing. I am adamantly opposed to the Republican Medicare plan recently adopted by the House." 

The Republican plan ends Medicare as we know it and replaces it with a voucher system, for all those below age 55. It would have a particularly damaging effect on America’s women:

• Women represent 56 percent of the Medicare population.
• Among the oldest Medicare beneficiaries (ages 85 and older), 70 percent are women.
• 59 percent of women on Medicare have three or more chronic health conditions, compared to 38 percent of men.
• Similarly, women have higher rates than men of many chronic conditions, including arthritis, hypertension, and osteoporosis.
• 16 percent of Medicare beneficiaries reach the prescription drug ‘donut hole’ coverage gap each year.  Women, in addition to people with diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease, are the most likely to end up in the ‘donut hole.’
• 57 percent of women on Medicare live below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, compared to 45 percent of men.

“We will fight to preserve Medicare and ensure that it is never replaced with a system that would leave seniors without guaranteed benefits and at the mercy of private insurance companies,” said Congressman Rangel. 
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has said that the Republican plan would more than double the typical senior’s out-of-pocket health care spending in 2022, increasing seniors’ costs by more than $6,000.  By 2030, seniors’ out-of-pocket costs would nearly triple.

The Republican plan would also force seniors to negotiate with private health insurance companies; repeal the closing of the prescription drug ‘donut hole,’ costing many seniors thousands of dollars; and end free preventive services under Medicare."