Pelosi releases statement on the benefits of Affordable Care Act for America's seniors

Speaker Nancy Pelosi today released the following statement on the benefits of the Affordable Care Act for America's seniors. President Obama held a tele-town hall with seniors in Wheaton, Md. today on the legislation's provisions to strengthen Medicare, close the 'donut hole,' and protect seniors from fraud.

"This year, we passed the Affordable Care Act to lower costs, improve and strengthen Medicare and give seniors more control over their health care, and we will continue to work to ensure that seniors get to keep their doctor. Seniors have faced an onslaught of misinformation about health reform for more than a year. Working with the President, we will continue to let Americans know what reform means for them.

"The Affordable Care Act means one-time, tax-free checks will start going out this week to seniors who fall into the 'donut hole' prescription drug coverage gap. These checks will be going out throughout the year to 4 million seniors who face this problem, as part of a longer-term reform to end the coverage gap altogether. Most importantly, the checks come directly to the affected seniors; seniors should not give personal information to any caller, anyone who writes them, or any individual who comes to their door. This message is part of a larger effort in the new health insurance reform law to crack down on Medicare fraud and redirect those dollars to improved care.

"Congressional Republicans calling for repeal oppose this progress, and would return us to a system of higher drug costs, shrinking benefits, and insecurity for our seniors. They would protect insurance industry profits at the expense of the care our seniors need and deserve. Democrats in Congress and President Obama won't let that happen."