Democrat Congressman Joe Crowley met with members of the elderly community on Monday where he discussed the current debate concerning the Affordable Care Act.

Crowley, who is running for reelection addressed the residents and patients of Workmen’s Circle Multi-Care Center in the Bronx.

“Every human being in the United States needs medical care,” he said.

“The rising cost of Medicare will bankrupt us. We need to address this growing problem.”

“We can’t balance the books on the backs of the poor, elderly, and our children,”said Crowley

In March 2010, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act reforms that improve access to affordable health coverage for everyone and protect consumers from abusive insurance
company practices.

The Daily News reports patients expressed their concerns to Crowley about the continued reduction of Medicare benefits.

“Last year I was put in a home like this,” temporary resident Norman Tajen told Crowley.

“I thought all the drugs were paid for through the home itself, but I received a $1,000 bill for drugs because my insurance company wouldn’t cover it.”

“I want to be independent for as long as I can be,” said Tajen. “People shouldn’t be bankrupted for medical bills.”

Assistant administrator for Workmen’s Circle, Cara Levine, told the Daily News that rising healthcare costs are affecting many patients.

“A lot of these patients have had health crises in the past weeks or months, and many have medicare or insurance,” said Levine. “[But] benefits have been cut, and they’re scared.”

“Were waiting for the Supreme Court ruling,” Crowley told the residents on Monday. “Social Security is constitutional, Medicare is constitutional, it would be logical to think the Affordable Care Act is constitutional too.”

Crowley concluded saying, “No more rhetoric. We need real solutions for this country.”