To the editor:

Very soon in the new administration, a vote in Congress may end our Medicare benefits the way we know them.

Currently, Medicare is a “defined benefit” program that guarantees a certain level of health coverage for all beneficiaries. It pays for about 80 percent of doctor and hospital visits.

Many in the House and Senate (who themselves enjoy guaranteed life-time health care benefits), want to dismantle our Medicare and replace it with a voucher or “premium support” system. This system would allot Medicare-eligible people a yearly stipend with which they will be expected to shop the market for health care coverage. There is no guarantee that future vouchers will keep pace with the continued rising costs of insurance, or provide the same level of benefits offered by Medicare.

Medicare is a promise made to all of us in 1965. We all have invested in this program with hard-earned dollars. It is not an entitlement program.

Medicare is one of the most popular acts ever passed by our government. Also, Medicare has received continuing bipartisan support for 52 years.

Our government should be working to decrease health care and pharmaceutical costs, rather than working to alter and decrease our benefits. Medicare needs to be strengthened, not weakened or dismantled.

Please, now is the time to write and call your representatives and senators to let them know that you want them to keep our government’s promise and save our Medicare benefits.