John Edwards 2004 On The Issues

Edwards' Agenda and Record on Seniors

Senator John Edwards knows the challenges our seniors face and believes that we must do more to honor our solemn commitment to our greatest generation. Edwards supports affordable prescriptions for all seniors through Medicare, and helped write legislation to bring cheaper generic prescription drugs to pharmacies as quickly as possible. Edwards strongly opposes any efforts to privatize Social Security and believes that Washington must return to an era of fiscal discipline to preserve the Social Security Trust Fund for future generations. Edwards has also supported efforts to make health care in rural areas more accessible to seniors and sponsored legislation to help seniors and families defend their savings against deceptive sweepstakes promotions.

Lower-cost Prescriptions For All Seniors Through Medicare. It is simply unacceptable that some seniors have to choose between buying the medicine they need or putting food on the table. Senator Edwards believes that we need an affordable prescription benefit for senior citizens and disabled Medicare beneficiaries. Edwards strongly opposes proposals to require seniors to give up their traditional Medicare and go into an HMO in order to get drug benefits. He believes that all seniors deserve a prescription drug benefit and that this benefit should be provided within the framework of Medicare. ["Senator Edwards Tells Seniors Medicare Should Cover Prescription Drugs," 10/9/00]
Protect Social Security. Senator Edwards strongly opposes recent efforts to privatize Social Security, which would jeopardize benefits by risking our Social Security funds in the stock market. Edwards also opposes efforts to raise the retirement age and has called on Congress and the administration to restore fiscal discipline to Washington in order to preserve the Social Security Trust Fund and our commitment to future generations.
Reduce Costs of Prescriptions and Increase Access to Generics. Senator Edwards believes that the cost of prescriptions has spiraled out of control and has become one of the biggest barriers to basic health care for our nation's families. In 2002, Edwards co-authored legislation that would have lowered costs of prescriptions. That bipartisan proposal passed the Senate by a vote of 78-21, but was blocked by President Bush and House Republicans. Senator Edwards has also supported efforts to allow safe reimportation of lower priced prescription drugs from Canada. [Congressional Record, S7632, 7/31/02; Edwards release, 7/31/02; CQ, Vote 201, S.812, 7/31/02]
Increase Access to Health Care For Seniors in Rural Areas. Although more than 25% of senior citizens live in small towns and rural areas, only 9% of physicians practice in these areas. Senator John Edwards cosponsored legislation to improve health services for senior citizens in rural communities through telemedicine, which combines cutting edge computer technology with high-tech medical care. The Telehealth Improvement and Modernization Act of 2000 would make all health care providers eligible for reimbursement, allow reimbursement for consultations, and eliminate unnecessary fees. ["Senator Edwards Cosponsors Health Care Access Bill," 5/4/00]
Stop Penalizing Seniors Who Choose to Work Past Age of 65. Senator Edwards strongly supported the Senior Citizens' Freedom to Work Act of 2000, which removed penalties in the Social Security rules for seniors who want to work past age 65. Edwards believes that it's wrong for the government to reduce Social Security benefits for seniors who want to continue to make contributions in the workplace. ["Retiring the Earnings Test, Not Our Seniors," 3/22/00]
Prevent Seniors From Falling Victim to Sweepstakes Fraud. Senator Edwards successfully pushed through a measure to help seniors and families defend themselves against deceptive sweepstakes promotions. Edwards' initiative lets consumers call a toll-free telephone number or write to sweepstakes promoters to have their names and addresses removed from mailing lists. The legislation was supported by the AARP. ["Senate Passes Sweepstakes Bill," 8/2/99]
Extend Funding For Medicare and Home Health Care Services. Edwards voted for legislation in 2003 to delay billions of dollars of cuts in Medicare funding, including a 15% cut to home health funding. Edwards also co-sponsored the bipartisan Medicare Home Health Equity Act of 1999. Among other provisions, the bill included the elimination of an automatic 15% reduction in Medicare home health payments scheduled for October 1, 2000. About the bill Edwards said, "It is an old adage that says you can judge the values of a society by how it treats its elderly. This legislation has the goal of treating our elderly citizens with the respect, care and dignity that they deserve." ["Senator Edwards Cosponsors Bill To Extend Home Health Care Services," 6/30/99; Congressional Record, SB 1310, 6/30/99; CQ, Vote 23, 1/23/03; States News Service, 1/24/03; Senator Clinton press release, 1/22/03]
Support the Older Americans Act and Increase Support Services For Our Nation's Elders. Edwards voted to support the Older Americans Act Amendments of 2000. The legislation included programs to help seniors with housing, nutrition, employment, retirement, long-term care, protection from abuse and neglect, and community needs. The OAA Amendments was designed to ensure flexibility, streamline services, and target resources to rural areas. Among other things, the OAA Amendments also established the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP). Two-thirds of the nation's elderly who are not in institutional homes rely on family and friends for help with daily activities. The NFCSP provides these caregivers with counseling, information, and services to help them care for their elderly loved ones. [Congressional Quarterly Weekly, 10/27/00; CQ, Vote 285, 10/26/00]

Source: John Edwards for President 2004 Web Site