Social Security and Medicare

Medicare is a lifeline for 40 million Americans. I want to strengthen it, rein in high premiums, and make needed corrections to the confusing Medicare prescription drug benefit.

Medicare should cover, but doesn't:  hearing aids, hearing exams, glasses, eye exams, dental work, annual physical exams, the cost of hospital stays longer than 150 days, the cost of nursing home stays longer than 100 days, deductibles, coinsurance, etc.  There are so many gaps in Medicare coverage that two-thirds of all seniors sign up for "Medigap" private health coverage.  I support Comprehensive Medicare coverage for prescription drugs, eye care, hearing aids, and dental needs.