Mineola, NY-Over 200 senior citizens attended a rally today hosted by Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi, Legislator Jeff Toback (D-Oceanside), and Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury) to draw attention to the plight of Nassau County's senior citizens, as the cost of Medicare HMO rates continue to skyrocket. Since 1998, Medicare pullouts from HMO insurance plans have negatively affected more than 460,000 senior citizens in Nassau County.

"Our seniors are being treated unfairly," Toback said. "I believe this hearing today will assure that all elected officials remain vigilant on this issue and that we all work towards resolving this crisis. Afterall, our seniors are the suburban pioneers of this county and we must treat them like the valuable resource they are."

Also present at the rally were Senator Charles Schumer, Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy and Congressman Steve Israel, who spoke to the crowd of over 200 Nassau senior citizens gathered in front of the county's Executive and Legislative building at One West Street.

Holding signs that read, "We Vote No - Premiums Must Go", "If the city doesn't pay, why do we?" and "Give Us Back - What We Lack -- HMOs, HMOs, HMOs," seniors expressed their frustration with the issue of affordable health benefits and the inequities of benefits offered to New York City seniors vs Nassau's.

"Nassau County cares about its seniors who have made invaluable contributions to our community and for too long now they have felt the brunt of Medicare cut backs and Washington's inability to combat the problem," said County Executive Suozzi.

"The time has come for action; the president and congressional leaders must hear the outcry from these seniors and support our legislation to resolve the healthcare crisis on Long Island and around the country, " Senator Schumer said.

Following the rally the hearing before the Legislature's Government Services Committee, of which Legislator Toback is the chair, heard testimony from a host of experts in the field of senior citizen affairs and health insurance.

"These people are in desperate need of help today," said Donald Berkman, Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP) coordinator, in his testimony. "The medical costs are outrageous and are getting out of hand."

Speaking before the committee also included Sharon Mullon, Commissioner of Nassau County Department of Senior Citizen Affairs; Judith Clark, Director of Support Services, Nassau County Department of Senior Citizens Affairs; Clara Woll, retired HIICAP Coordinator; Thomas Jones, Managed Care Operations Specialist, NY Regional Office, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services and other experts.

"This hearing let us learn first hand how this issue effects our residents," Presiding Officer Jacobs said. "It is important that we keep this in the forefront until it is resolved. We must serve as local lobbyists for our federal officials."