FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Doctors for America
PO Box 53313
1921 Florida Ave NW
Washington, DC 20009-9997
September 11, 2023
Doctors for America Supports the Medicare & Social Security Fair Share Act
Washington, D.C.- Doctors for America (DFA) is pleased to endorse the Medicare and Social Security Fair Share Act. We commend Senator Sheldon Whitehouse for working to preserve these vital programs and the people they serve for many years to come. Prior to the passage of Medicare, millions of older Americans struggled to access even basic health care once they retired, with nearly half of Americans over 65 lacking any health insurance. 1As of 2019, only 1% of America’s seniors were uninsured, compared to 12% of those under 65, 2demonstrating the monumental transformation on health care access produced by Medicare. Protecting this essential safety net is why Doctors for America joins Senator Whitehouse in urging Congress to finally secure Medicare’s future.
At a time when greed and profiteering in health care is omnipresent, ensuring an equitable funding structure for Medicare is more important than ever. While some of Doctors for America’s own physician advocates, as high income individuals, would contribute more to Medicare under this proposal, we proudly do so in support of the patients who need our services the most. Our members reject the status quo in this country that calls for maximizing profit first, and protecting health access second. Instead, we urge a fundamental reshaping of the healthcare sector that ensures universal and affordable access to care by raising taxes on people who can most afford it, those with annual salaries of more than $400,000. Medicare is a foundational piece in this more just and equitable future and thus we enthusiastically support the preservation of the program for decades to come.
About Doctors for America:
Doctors for America mobilizes doctors and medical students to be leaders in putting patients over politics to improve the health of our patients, communities, and nation. DFA is an organization of over 27,000 physician and medical student advocates in all 50 states, representing all areas of specialization. DFA teaches physicians and medical students advocacy skills and does advocacy at a state and federal level. Our impact areas focus on access to affordable care, community health and prevention, and health justice and equity. DFA focuses solely on what is best for our patients, not on the business side of medicine, and does not accept any funding from pharmaceutical or medical device companies, which uniquely positions DFA as the organization that puts patients over politics and patients over profits. Find out more at doctorsforamerica.org and on X at @drsforamerica.