Happy birthday, Medicare! Thank you for working so hard over the past 45 years
to keep millions of Americans healthy,
safe and strong. Here’s to the next 45.

—Doug G.,
Medicare Rights Center Staff

Thanks to Medicare for the care of my
parents and now, myself! Without this
treasure of a program, multitudes would
be suffering from the lack of money to pay
for continually rising health care costs.
Entitlement is a word, not to denigrate,
but to be used positively for those of us
who have contributed over a lifetime to this
health insurance program, and to which
we are now entitled. Medicare may not be
perfect but it has saved many seniors from
poverty. Happy birthday and may Medicare
continue to grow and evolve to provide
us all with good, sound health care for a
long time to come.

—Flo B.

Happy Birthday, Medicare! Many parents
gave birth to you, and as most parents
would say, you were the best thing that
ever happened to them.

—Heather B.
Medicare Rights Center Staff

I've been bringing the Medicare Message
to seniors in Westchester County for eight years as a volunteer. Thank you MRC for
giving me the opportunity to teach and
learn at the same time.

—Dorothy D.

Since I had the privilege of enrolling in
original Medicare in 2008 at the age of 65,
I've had nothing but good experiences.
Along with the medigap insurance I
purchased at the same time, I'm able to
get the medical attention I need at no
further out-of-pocket cost. Thank you
Medicare and happy 45th birthday!!!

—Bob S.

Since its inception, Medicare has enabled millions of Americans to experience both a better quality of life and, in many instances, quantity of life. Without Medicare many
citizens would have exhausted their life savings and been faced with a lower
standard of living. Without Medicare states would have been hard pressed to provide
an acceptable level of health care to their constituencies. Let us hope that health
care reform will improve Medicare so
that it remains a viable program for the
coming generations.

—Barbara K.