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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Medicare Future at Critical Juncture for Millions of Texans

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Tuesday, July 30, 2013   

AUSTIN, Texas - As the cost of health care continues to rise, Medicare is the only real option for health insurance for seniors across Texas and the nation. Those who rely on it are urging Congress to keep the program strong for future generations.

According to Barbara Kaase of Mesquite, with her health issues, there would have been no way she could have retired without Medicare.

"Fact of the matter is, as you age you get chronic conditions," she observed. "And those chronic conditions, if you had to go buy insurance, would either eliminate your possibilities to get insurance or would make it extremely high. So they need to fix Medicare so that people can get the help they need going forward."

Today marks the 48th anniversary of Medicare. If no changes are made, it's been estimated that the trust fund will be exhausted by 2026.

Among the proposals in Washington to keep Medicare operating in the future would be to raise the eligibility age from 65 to 67. Kaase said that would leave many seniors without health coverage and waiting, as many are already ... including her friend with cancer of the liver.

"Who lost his job early, and they wanted $1,800 a month for his insurance," Kaase said. "He couldn't afford that. When you're out of work, how can you pay $1,800 a month for a private policy? I think he's 63 now and he's hoping that he and his wife can hang on until he reaches the point that he can get Medicare."

Instead of looking at raising the eligibility age or reducing benefits, according to Tim Morstad, director of outreach with AARP Texas, Congress should move ahead with some of what he called the more responsible solutions that won't jeopardize the health of seniors.

"The federal government really needs to take hard look at the waste, fraud and abuse that is occurring in Medicare," Morstad said. "There are ways to streamline processes to make the program more efficient and to make it cost less."

In Texas, there are currently more than 3 million seniors enrolled in the Medicare program.

More information is at bit.ly/14tA8ee.




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