As millions of Americans ready themselves to vote this election season, they need to know the various candidates’ positions on key Medicare issues. For this reason, the Medicare Rights Center is providing six questions to ask the 2016 presidential and congressional candidates to find out where they stand on protecting and strengthening Medicare.

The Medicare program helps countless older adults and people with disabilities, and their families, achieve health and economic security. Before people head to the polls, they need clear answers from the candidates about their positions on critical Medicare issues– from filling gaps in Medicare coverage to stemming the rising cost of prescription drugs.

Visit the Ask the Candidates page to reach out to the presidential candidates through email or on Twitter. You can also download the questions and use them at local events, share them with your friends and neighbors, or contact other political candidates directly. Ask where they stand on the following issues:
[x_icon_list][x_icon_list_item type=”comment-o”]Fill coverage gaps: Are you committed to adding dental, vision, and/or hearing care as Medicare-covered benefits? [/x_icon_list_item]
[x_icon_list_item type=”comment-o”]Stem the rising cost of prescription drugs:  What commitments will you make to bring down the price of prescription drugs? For instance, do you support allowing the federal government to negotiate Medicare prescription drug prices? [/x_icon_list_item]
[x_icon_list_item type=”comment-o”]Preserve Medicare for the future: Do you support shifting higher costs to people with Medicare—for instance, through higher premiums or cost-sharing—or turning Medicare into a voucher program, where people buy coverage on the private market with a federal subsidy? [/x_icon_list_item]
[x_icon_list_item type=”comment-o”]Make Medicare more affordable: How will you help people with low and moderate incomes afford coverage? For example, will you increase access to Medicare cost-assistance programs? [/x_icon_list_item]
[x_icon_list_item type=”comment-o”]Prepare people to enroll in Medicare: Do you support sending a federal notice to all people nearing Medicare eligibility about how to enroll? [/x_icon_list_item]
[x_icon_list_item type=”comment-o”]Make it easier for consumers to enroll in and navigate Medicare: How will you make it easier for people with Medicare to shop for insurance coverage and get answers to pressing coverage questions? [/x_icon_list_item][/x_icon_list]

The six topical questions and background information addressing key Medicare issues were derived from the 50 wishes for Medicare’s future that Medicare Rights compiled with consumer feedback last summer in celebration of Medicare’s 50th anniversary.

Visit www.medicarerights.org/ask-the-candidates, and ask the candidates how they will protect and strengthen Medicare for the future.