When I chose to run for the United States Congress in 2006, I announced that healthcare and the need to address unavailable or inadequate healthcare coverage for millions of Americans would be one of my highest priorities. This is an issue that resonates with people across the Delaware Valley and across the nation.

I was particularly concerned about indigent Medicare recipients - the elderly and disabled - who pay the Medicare Part B Premium each month. Many of these people were never informed that the state Medicaid program may pay this premium, which is now $93.50 per month. (This premium increases each January with the cost of living adjustment, and it will increase to $96.40 in January 2008.)