WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and leader of the Senate Democrats’ #ACAWorks Campaign, released the following statement in advance of tomorrow’s 50th anniversary of the signing of Medicare into law.

"For fifty years, Medicare and Medicaid have offered seniors, children, and people with disabilities the peace of mind and high-quality health care they deserve, all while saving millions of vulnerable families from being pushed into poverty simply because of high-cost medical bills.

“When my grandmother got really sick, it was Medicare that paid the bills and kept her and my grandfather out of bankruptcy. It’s why I’ve fought to preserve and protect Medicare for the nearly 50 million seniors who rely on it to keep them healthy and financially secure each year. And it’s why I’ve fought to protect and improve the Affordable Care Act since day one, which has provided free preventive and wellness care; improved primary, coordinated, and nursing home care; closed the Medicare ‘donut hole’; and enhanced other Medicare benefits for more than half a million Connecticut seniors. The bottom line is that Medicare has transformed our nation’s health care system and has made quality, affordable health coverage a right, not a privilege available only to those who can afford it. It is a moral imperative that we continue to make Medicare a stronger, more sustainable program that will meet the needs of millions more seniors for generations to come.”