Printable Version
Retired Americans Outraged at Bush Veto of Medicare Bill
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
For Immediate Release
Retired Americans Outraged at Bush Veto of Medicare Bill
Chooses Well-Being of Big Insurance Companies over Health Care Needs of Older Americans
The following statement was issued today by George J. Kourpias, President of the Alliance for Retired Americans, in response to President Bush’s veto of H.R. 6331.
“Through his misguided veto of the Medicare bill, President Bush is once again reflexively siding with the special interests of the big insurance companies, rather than with seniors struggling to afford quality health care.
“This veto would prompt an exodus of physicians from treating Medicare patients and make it even harder for low-income seniors to afford their medical care – all in the name of preserving the excessive taxpayer subsidies to the Medicare Advantage programs run by large insurance companies. This hardly sounds like the work of a self-described “compassionate conservative.”
“Medicare Advantage programs, on the average, cost 13 percent more than if Medicare directly provided these same services. Moreover, the rapidly-expanding fee-for-service plans are overpaid by 17 percent. This egregious example of corporate welfare siphons valuable money from the Medicare Trust Fund, taking from those with the least and giving to those with the most.
“President Bush’s veto of H.R. 6331 continues his legacy of sacrificing older Americans’ health care needs for the profits of large corporations. Grassroots activists with the Alliance for Retired Americans will demand that Congress acts quickly to override today’s veto.”
###
Contact: Marcie Kohenak, (202) 637-5178 or mkohenak@retiredamericans.org