WHEREAS medical progress has been far more successful in the control of acute and epidemic illnesses than in the alleviation of the chronic degenerative diseases; and

WHEREAS there is in our country a steadily increasing proportion of the population consisting of elderly people with chronic illnesses requiring continuous and expensive medical care; and

WHEREAS the present medical and health care insurance plans, while adequate to meet the needs of acute illnesses and accidents, do not provide adequate resources for the prolonged medical care of chronic disease in the aged; and

WHEREAS the present laws set medical indigency as a prerequisite to assistance for elderly individuals, often resulting in depriving them of their financial resources, and depriving them of a sense of dignity; and

WHEREAS it has become apparent that in order to meet adequately the medical and health needs of this steadily growing group of elderly patients, some form of social security measure is necessary to spread the burden of these medical expenses over the entire working population;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the American Ethical Union go on record in favor of legislation making medical or health care for the aged a function of our national system of social security and enabling retired older citizens to meet their medical and health needs with dignity and without pauperizing themselves or their families.

Source: Where We Stand ... 1969

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