Statement by NEA
VP Dennis Van Roekel
on Medicare Agreement

America's retirees deserve lower prices for medicines and guaranteed, defined benefits under Medicare. This plan would essentially turn Medicare into a voucher program, forcing seniors who choose to stay in traditional Medicare to pay higher premiums.

Educators and other employees who have labored all their lives will be at the mercy of privatized health plans that increase costs and force employers to choose which retired workers to cover.

NEA believes that providing seniors affordable prescription drugs is a laudable goal. However, the plan before Congressional negotiators would threaten full coverage for millions of retirees.

NEA strongly urges lawmakers to oppose this ill-conceived agreement.

--Dennis Van Roekel, Vice President
   National Education Association

November 19, 2003

For more information, contact:
Anjetta McQueen, NEA Public Relations 202-822-7251 amcqueen@nea.org
Kathleen Lyons, NEA Public Relations 202-822-7213 klyons@nea.org

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The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing more than 2.7 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers.