This week Rep. Jim McDermott, introduced H.R. 5396, the Medicare Dental, Vision, and Hearing Benefit Act of 2016, in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Alliance for Retired Americans and the Retired Public Employees Council of WA wholeheartedly supports this bill as a way to close many of the gaps in the current Medicare benefit package.

Once enacted, this bill would provide seniors with dental and oral health care services under Medicare, including routine dental cleanings, fillings and crowns, root canals, and dentures; routine eye examinations and procedures and eyeglasses; and routine hearing exams and hearing aids.

It would allow Medicare to provide coverage for dental, vision, and hearing services and related supplies.

To control costs and facilitate implementation of these major reforms, benefits will be subject to reasonable limitations and will be phased in gradually over several years.

Please tell your Representative that you would very much like to see H.R. 5396 passed and want your Member of Congress to be a co-sponsor by clicking on "Start Writing" to the right.

It’s time to strengthen Medicare and expand benefits.

Thank you.