Medicare Showing Its Age
Bush Administration Promotes Comprehensive Reform

(July 30, 2003, Arlington, VA) -- The National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) is concerned that Medicare has celebrated another anniversary without undergoing the necessary reform to modernize the program. Medicare was originally designed to provide health care coverage for the elderly and poor, but over the years has grown into the nation's second largest federal entitlement program.

"NAHU has long believed that comprehensive Medicare reform is crucial to the program's long-term stability and that current Medicare benefits are simply not secure for the 77 million baby boomers set to retire in just eight years," stated Kevin Corcoran, executive vice president. "The Medicare program is in desperate need of comprehensive reform to ensure that sufficient financing is available to provide high-quality health care to America's seniors.

"The overwhelming bipartisan support in both the House and Senate for a prescription drug benefit for seniors gives us a real opportunity to improve Medicare now. Seniors need prescription drug benefits, but adding them without addressing the underlying program will only exacerbate Medicare's financial problems.

"We applaud the Bush Administration and many members of Congress for their continued commitment to strengthen and reform Medicare in a way that will ensure long-term stability of the program. We agree with them that any Medicare reform should guarantee access to affordable prescription drugs for all beneficiaries and should utilize private-sector mechanisms to manage costs and deliver a high-quality benefit.

"We look forward to our continued work with the Medicare conferees 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 18,000 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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