Washington, D.C.- Today Congressman Charles B. Rangel and 80 House Democrats signed a letter urging President Barack Obama to reject House Republican efforts to raise the Medicare eligibility age during deficit negotiations.

"Millions of Americans work hard their entire lives and plan on their golden years to start at 65. During ongoing fiscal cliff negotiations, House Republicans insist on raising the Medicare eligibility age. They're holding the middle class hostage in order to protect the wealthy," said Rangel. "Not only is this morally wrong, but fiscally irresponsible."

Medicare was created in 1965 and is a national health insurance program that guarantees access to health insurance for Americans ages 65 and older and younger people with disabilities.

The Affordable Care Act has strengthened Medicare significantly. Since the law enacted in March 2010, gaps in prescription drug benefits, also known as the "donut hole," have gradually been closing for Medicare recipients while increasing access to basic preventative care for all Americans.

"Medicare has provided Americans with healthcare security for more than five decades. Raising the Medicare eligibility age is not cost-effective and puts the cost burden on younger generations already struggling in this tough economy," added Rangel. "My Democratic Colleagues and I will keep fighting to protect our nation's seniors and their right to retire at 65."

The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that the costs to states and the private sector would be twice as large as the savings— $11.4 billion in costs versus $5.7 billion in net federal savings.  A phased-in approach as included in the Ryan Republican Budget produces no budget savings over the next decade.

To read the full text of the letter to President Obama, click here.

The letter was signed by:

Lloyd Doggett

Joe Courtney

John Larson

Louise Slaughter

John Lewis

Jan Schakowsky

Allyson Schwartz

Raul Grijalva

Frank Pallone

Barney Frank

John Tierney

Danny Davis

Henry Waxman

Bobby Scott

Kathy Castor

Earl Blumenauer

Mel Watt

Bill Pascrell

Elijah Cummings

Al Green

Janice Hahn

Jim McDermott

Sheila Jackson Lee

Judy Chu

Robert Brady

Charles Rangel

Gene Green

Rosa DeLauro

Marcia Fudge

Corrine Brown

Eddie Bernice Johnson

Eleanor Holmes Norton

John Yarmuth

Karen Bass

Anna Eshoo

Brad Miller

Peter DeFazio

Mike Honda

Ted Deutch

Yvette Clarke

Sam Farr

Adam Schiff

Jose Serrano

Bennie Thompson

Bobby Rush

Alcee Hastings

Jim Langevin

Keith Ellison

Rush Holt

Paul Tonko

Tim Bishop

Peter Welch

Bill Keating

Chellie Pingree

Colleen Hanabusa

Jim McGovern

Jerrold Nadler

Steve Cohen

Donna Edwards

John Sarbanes

Linda Sanchez

Doris Matsui

Carolyn Maloney

Emanuel Cleaver

Grace Napolitano 

Suzanne Bonamici

Loretta Sanchez

John Garamendi

David Cicilline

Donald Payne

Jackie Speier

Maxine Waters

Laura Richardson

Zoe Lofgren

Kerry Bentivolio

Lynn Woolsey

Russ Carnahan

Maurice Hinchey

John Olver

Betty Sutton

Mike Michaud