Sanders says Senate Democrats weighing $1,000 voucher for seniors to purchase new Medicare benefits

[Donkees]

Joseph Zeballos-Roig

Excerpt:

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont on Tuesday said Senate Democrats were considering $1,000 vouchers for seniors to access expanded Medicare benefits that could form a major part of a $3.5 trillion social spending plan they want to pass this month. He said it would serve as a brief stop-gap measure while the programs are implemented.

"In terms of the voucher, what we want to do is make sure that people understand the significance," the Vermont independent told Insider. "So as a bridge, I think what we're looking at is here's $1,000 right away, use that to go to a dentist if you cannot afford to go. That's very temporary, but maybe a bridge for a year."

Senate Democrats are seeking to expand Medicare so it covers dental, vision, and hearing benefits in their party-line social spending package. Widening the reach of the federal health insurance program is a top priority for Sanders as chair of the Senate Budget Committee and it has backing from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

House Democrats introduced legislation for Medicare to gradually initiate vision coverage next year, hearing in 2023, with dental covered in 2028. But Sanders has said he favors a faster timeline for dental coverage.

https://www.businessinsider.com/sanders-democrats-weighing-vouchers-seniors-get-new-medicare-benefits-2021-9

[Donkees]

1. We didn't do well politically with seniors during the campaign, but Bernie will do right by seniors

Link to tweet