Dear Senators: Want the attention of American voters? Here’s a tip: 89 percent of adults aged 18 and over want Congress to make improving programs to protect low-income seniors against rising Medicare costs a top priority. Put this issue front and center of your campaigns, and you’ll get our attention.

Our parents, especially those with limited incomes (read “most”), struggle with food and gasoline prices. Let’s not add rising Medicare premiums on to that pile of worries too.

A telephone poll conducted by Harris Interactive for the National Council on Aging found that 89 percent of adults aged 18 and over believe that improving programs to protect low-income seniors against rising Medicare costs should be a top priority for Congress this year.

“Regardless of age, income, or party identification, the vast majority of Americans believe that Congress should improve Medicare this year to better protect seniors in greatest need against these rising costs,” said Howard Bedlin, NCOA vice president of policy and advocacy.

Senate leaders are currently crafting Medicare legislation that is expected to be voted on in this month. The bill is primarily designed to increase payments to physicians, which will likely cause additional increases in Part B premiums that have already more than doubled since 2000.

“Protections designed to help beneficiaries with income below about $15,000 with rising out-of-pocket costs, such as Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs), are badly broken and must be fixed,” Bedlin added. “There are serious barriers to participation, resulting in enrollment rates estimated to be as low as only 13 percent. In addition, asset eligibility thresholds have not been adjusted to reflect inflation in almost 20 years.”

The NCOA/Harris survey, conducted in May, found that 91 percent of those polled support simplifying eligibility rules for these Medicare programs to make it easier for low-income beneficiaries to get the help they need. The survey also found that the American public strongly supports proposals that would fix some of the other problems associated with historically low enrollment. Specifically, 86 percent of respondents support raising asset eligibility levels for Medicare low-income assistance programs, and 87 percent support increased funding to find and enroll low-income beneficiaries in these programs.

In an effort to address these problems, NCOA and a group of national organizations representing seniors and persons with disabilities have come together in support of provisions to improve the legislation. In a letter to the Senate, more than 40 organizations urged Senators to simplify and align low-income assistance programs (including MSPs and the Medicare Part D Low Income Subsidy); improve outreach and participation for those currently eligible; and stop penalizing seniors who did the right thing in putting aside a modest nest egg of savings for retirement by bringing outdated asset limits in line with today’s cost of living. Organizations signing the letter agreed that: “Helping vulnerable beneficiaries with income below $15,000 is as or more important than helping doctors with income over $150,000.”

I couldn’t agree more.

About me: I’m Lori and I live in our nation’s capital, where I watch what the federal government and elected representatives are doing to protect our country’s elders. Like Elizabeth, I’m part of the Sandwich Generation, a boomer with elementary-school age children and older parents. Lucky for me, my parents (one 80-years-old and the other close to it) are still in good health (knock on wood) and do not require special care options. But I know that’s not the case for many of my peers, so I’ve jumped into the conversation now, so I’m ready for whatever life may bring.