B'nai B'rith International's (BBI's) Center for Senior Services (CSS) recently launched its advocacy efforts to strive for access to quality and affordable healthcare. Specifically, CSS has taken on this issue because we believe that the only way to achieve healthy aging is through life long access to affordable, preventive, and routine medical care.

The number of uninsured persons in the United States continues to grow, from 44.8 million in 2005 to 47 million in 2006. The percentage of uninsured is also rising, from 15.3 percent of the total population in 2005 to 15.8 percent in 2006. Millions more are underinsured.

Recent evidence suggests that so many uninsured and underinsured people may have long-term cost implications for our health system and the Medicare program in particular. If general healthcare costs continue to rise at their current rate, it is entirely possible that Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security could face severe budget cuts.  Funding these three major programs at an appropriate level is critical because the majority of older adults in the United States rely heavily on these programs to survive.

B'nai B'rith is not endorsing any particular strategy to reform the United States healthcare system, but we encourage you to join us in our advocacy efforts for responsible reform. Read about our healthcare reform principles here.  You can help move this issue to the forefront of the political and policy discussions currently taking place by calling us at 866-999-6596; by emailing us at senioradvocacy@bnaibrith.org, by signing up for our CSS Update online newsletter, or by attending one of our upcoming programs in nationwide locations.