{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.manchin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/following-medicare-insolvency-report-manchin-asks-azar-for-fix-for-seniors", "Following Medicare Insolvency Report, Manchin Asks Azar For Fix For Seniors", "2018-08-22", "2018", "2018-08", "Democrat", "House", "WV", "Joe Manchin", "M001183", "www.manchin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "August 22, 2018\n\t\t\t Following Medicare Insolvency Report, Manchin Asks Azar For Fix For Seniors \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWashington, D.C. Following reports that the Medicare Part A Hospital Insurance trust fund will be insolvent within the decade, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) is requesting information from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar. Senator Manchin is asking Secretary Azar to provide answers to specific questions about insolvency, and how Medicare's potential insolvency could impact West Virginians.\r\nSenator Manchin said in part: In June, the Medicare Boards of Trustees released the 2018 Trustees Report on the financial status of the Hospital Insurance and Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Funds. The report included the worrying prediction that the Medicare Part A Hospital Insurance trust fund will be insolvent in just eight years  three years sooner than was predicted last year. Medicare insolvency would be devastating to seniors in my state and around the country. While every senior would suffer, the more than 31,000 West Virginian seniors who live in poverty and already struggle to make ends meet would be left without a lifeline. That is why I am committed to finding a solution to this crisis before seniors are left without access to the care that they need.\r\nToday, Senator Manchin participated in an AARP tele-town hall with more than 3,500 West Virginia seniors. He talked with seniors from throughout the state on the future of Medicare and Social Security, and also Veterans care in West Virginia.\r\nRead the full letter below or click here:\r\nDear Secretary Azar:\r\nAs the senior Senator from West Virginia, I hear almost every day from seniors who tell me how important Medicare is for their health and economic security. Our seniors  and seniors around this country  depend on Medicare to stay healthy and independent. That is why I am and have always been fighting to keep the Medicare program strong and financially secure, and why I was so disturbed to see recent reports that Medicare's financial situation is worse than previously reported.\r\nIn June, the Medicare Boards of Trustees released the 2018 Trustees Report on the financial status of the Hospital Insurance and Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Funds. The report included the worrying prediction that the Medicare Part A Hospital Insurance trust fund will be insolvent in just eight years  three years sooner than was predicted last year.\r\nMedicare insolvency would be devastating to seniors in my state and around the country. While every senior would suffer, the more than 31,000 West Virginian seniors who live in poverty and already struggle to make ends meet would be left without a lifeline. That is why I am committed to finding a solution to this crisis before seniors are left without access to the care that they need.\r\nToday, I am seeking your help in better understanding the causes driving the insolvency of the Medicare Trust Fund, the impact that insolvency would have on seniors, and the solutions for preserving Medicare. I ask that you provide answers to these specific questions:\r\n \r\nWhat factors are contributing to the insolvency of the Medicare Part A Hospital Insurance Trust Fund? What factors shifted the expected insolvency date from 2029 to 2026?\r\nWhat will the impact be on seniors if the trust fund is insolvent? How will it impact their access to the healthcare that they need?\r\nIn the event of insolvency, what steps can CMS take to protect seniors' access to healthcare?\r\nWhat steps can CMS take to avert insolvency?\r\nWhat actions or legislative changes could Congress make to avert insolvency?\r\n \r\nSince I came to the Senate, I have always tried to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to push for commonsense solutions to critical problems. While Congress can often get caught up in partisan bickering, this problem is too important to put off or kick down the road. Before Medicare, almost 1 in 2 older Americans had no health insurance and, if they got sick, faced the choice of going without care or facing devastating economic consequences. We cannot go back to that world. I look forward to working with you to protect and preserve Medicare for generations to come.\r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.manchin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/following-medicare-insolvency-report-manchin-asks-azar-for-fix-for-seniors"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8498798124492168, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}