Bush Medicare Proposal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kelly Loussedes

Director of Public Relations

Bush Administration Furthers Its Commitment to Strengthen Medicare

(March 4, 2003, Arlington, VA) -- The National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) applauds the Bush Administration for its recently released proposal to strengthen and reform Medicare. Comprehensive Medicare reform is vital to the survival of a system on which millions of seniors depend.

"NAHU believes, as the president does, that access to affordable prescription drugs should be an integral part of an overall reform plan that addresses the serious flaws of the almost 30-year old program, stated Janet Trautwein, vice president of government affairs. "The president's plan includes prescription drug coverage for both newly expanded private plans and those who wish to remain in the traditional fee-for-service program. Any long-term solution needs to preserve quality of care for seniors, maintain reasonable federal budgets, and provide a system upon which all generations of taxpayers can rely.

"The Bush plan gives Medicare beneficiaries the same kind of health care choices and quality plans that health insurers already offer to millions of Americans in the private market. Some advantages of private health plans are they typically offer more choices and adapt more quickly to changes in medicine and technology.

"We look forward to our continued work with members of Congress and the Administration on an improved program that will finally bring more choices and prescription drug coverage to America's Medicare beneficiaries."

The National Association of Health Underwriters represents more than 17,000 professional health insurance agents and brokers who provide insurance for millions of Americans. NAHU is headquartered in Arlington, VA. For more information, visit www.nahu.org.

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