Photo: James Rojas
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio)— Members of the Massachusetts Senior Action Council protested outside of the Massachusetts State House Monday to call for lawmakers to use American Rescue Plan Act funds to help more seniors in the state.
The protesters donned hospital gowns and plastic rear-ends to call on lawmakers to "cover their butts" by using money to help 50,000 Massachusetts seniors who missed the cutoff for the Medicare Savings Program. This program helps seniors near the poverty line save money on healthcare expenses.
State Rep. Steven Ultrino spoke at the rally and said lawmakers must act to help seniors in their community.
"No one should chose whether to either pay their rent or pay their healthcare premiums or actually go shopping so they don't die," Ultrino said in a video on the MSAC Facebook page.
Ultrino told WBZ's James Rojas about his legislation to help seniors.
"In order to participate, you have to be at the 200 percent level of poverty and its much lower right now," Ultrino said. "This legislation will get rid of that."
Ultrino's bill H.1318 is scheduled to go before the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing on Sept. 28.
WBZ's James Rojas has more.
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