Kerry Offers "Compact with the Greatest Generation" to Protect America's Seniors

John Kerry today unveiled his �Compact with the Greatest Generation, a guarantee that will give seniors the protection they have earned for Social Security and Medicare, helps seniors afford their medicine, and ensure long-term care.

�My dad was a member of the Greatest Generation that achieved victory in World War II.  This was the generation that saved the world from fascism, came home and built the great American middle class, led the way in the civil rights movement, protected our environment, and created great programs like Medicare," said Kerry.

�And now that the Greatest Generation is getting older, I think it is the responsibility of all Americans to make sure we do our part for America�s seniors.  You have earned the best of America and we need to make sure you get the protection and health care you deserve," said Kerry.  "That�s why today I�m unveiling a new Compact with America�s seniors that will be a building block for the initiatives seniors can count on if I am elected President.  My Compact with America�s seniors says that greatest generation seniors should be able to count on Medicare and Social Security, on affordable prescription drugs, on quality options for long term care.  You�ve earned it."

John Kerry�s �Compact with the Greatest Generation will protect seniors by:

PROTECTING SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE
HELPING SENIORS AFFORD PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
ENSURING THAT SENIORS HAVE QUALITY LONG-TERM CARE
ASKING AMERICA�S GREATEST GENERATION TO HELP THE NEXT GENERATION

PROTECT MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY

• John Kerry Will Never Balance the Budget on the Backs of America�s Seniors.  Many politicians have supported major cuts that cause premium increases and cutbacks in benefits. John Kerry won�t.
• Quality Care in All Parts of the Country Rural and Urban.  Medicare has different policies that are sometimes unfair to parts of the area.  Kerry will make sure that seniors get quality care no matter where you live.
• Won�t Force Seniors into an HMO.  Many politicians have plans to push seniors into HMOs to get prescription drugs or affordable premiums. John Kerry will assure that seniors can pick the health care that�s right for them.

AFFORDABLE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

• Cutting Cost of Prescription Drugs that are rising at almost 20 percent, gouging seniors and making health care more expensive, at the same time pharmaceutical companies are paying executives millions.  Kerry has a plan to cut the greed out of prescriptions drugs to make them more affordable.
• A Real Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit.  Many politicians have a prescription drug plan to benefit pharmaceutical companies not seniors. John Kerry supports a real meaningful affordable drug benefit that: 
  • Doesn�t force seniors into HMOs
  • Is run by Medicare, not private insurance companies who can charge seniors whatever they want. 
  • Doesn�t undermine drug coverage that seniors have today. 
  • A real benefit available to every senior that helps those with average costs and those with the highest drug costs.

QUALITY OPTIONS FOR SENIORS WITH LONG-TERM CARE NEEDS

• Assure Quality Nursing Homes Care for seniors who live in nursing homes, with adequate inspections, reimbursements, and more training for health care workers.
• Protect Medicaid from politicians who want to block grant this program that helps one out of two seniors in nursing homes.
• Give Seniors More Options. Allow Medicaid to pay for more alternative care outside of nursing homes to allow more Americans to age in their own homes.
• Support Caregivers (both paid and unpaid, formal and informal) who provide the bulk of the support for those with long-term care needs.

ASK AMERICA�S GREATEST GENERATION TO HELP THE NEXT GENERATION. 

The Greatest Generation has another battle yet to fight to help strengthen American for generations to come.

• 100,000 Older Americans in Service.  For 10 hours of service a week, members will earn up to $2,000 a year tax free that they can apply to an education grant for a grandchild or other family member, another young person.
• Older Americans in Our Schools.  When seniors spend time tutoring they free up over-strained teachers to teach, and children get extra help learning.
• Seniors Helping Each Other. Members will be able to offer seniors support to live independently by helping them pick up their prescriptions or checking in on them to make sure they are doing alright.

SIGN THE COMPACT

If you agree with John Kerry that the next President of the United States needs to stand up and protect Medicare and Social Security; make prescription drugs more affordable, give seniors with long-term care needs quality options, and tap seniors to help teach the next generation and strengthen our communities then sign this compact. John Kerry believes if we stand together, we can meet our promise to America�s seniors.

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