Some more big news today:
“There is a gaping hole in Medicare that leaves out dental, vision, and hearing coverage. This is a serious problem,” Schumer wrote on Twitter.
“I’m working with @SenSanders to push to include dental, vision, and hearing Medicare coverage in the American Jobs and Families Plans,” he added.
Schumer, during a news conference on Sunday, made the case for expanding Medicare coverage to include dental, vision and hearing, noting the "more serious medical problems" a lack of coverage causes.
Here’s some more info from Axios:
Why it matters: Schumer said the effort is meant to close "a gaping hole" in the health insurance program that covers millions of Americans age 65 and older.
- He said they would attach the additional benefits to the American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan, two multi-trillion dollar proposals unveiled by President Biden earlier in 2021.
What they're saying: "If you talk to family medicine or primary care doctors, they will tell you with certainty that ignoring medical issues related to dental, vision and hearing often devolves into far more serious medical problems for people — especially seniors — that cost more to treat and are harder to remedy," Schumer said during a news conference Sunday, according to New York Daily News.
- "With the current Medicare platform, those three things are just left out, like it's no big deal. But it is a big deal and we should fix it," he added.
Friendly reminder:
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) says he will convene a meeting with all 11 Democratic members of the Senate Budget Committee on Wednesday to begin the process for passing a budget resolution, paving the way for Democrats to pass a major infrastructure bill on a party-line vote.
Schumer said he hopes to pass the budget resolution for fiscal 2022 in July.
“Tomorrow I’m convening a meeting with all 11 Democratic members of the Senate Budget Committee regarding a fiscal year ‘22 budget resolution,” Schumer said.
“Now that President Biden’s fiscal ‘22 budget request has been received by Congress, the Budget Committee can begin the important work of producing a budget resolution,” he added.
Schumer tacitly noted that a budget resolution would set the stage for passing elements of Biden’s $2.25 trillion American Jobs Plan and $1.8 trillion American Families Plan with simple majority votes.
“As you know, a budget resolution will outline how we go forward and includes issues that are affecting, that are part of reconciliation,” he said.
That would set the stage for passing a massive infrastructure investment bill with only Democratic votes after the August recess.
Be sure to let your Democratic Senator on the Budget Committee know you support Sanders plan and passing the American Jobs and Families Plans through reconciliation. Click below to contact the Senate Democrats on the Senate Budget Committee:
Patty Murray (D. WA)
Ron Wyden (D. OR)
Debbie Stabenow (D. MI)
Sheldon Whitehouse (D. RI)
Mark Warner (D. VA)
Jeff Merkley (D. OR)
Tim Kaine (D. VA)
Chris Van Hollen (D. MD)
Ben Ray Luján (D. NM)
Alex Padillia (D. CA)
And if your Democratic Senator isn’t on the Budget Committee, click here to let them know you support Sanders’ plan and to pass it through reconciliation.