Washington, D.C. – In recognition of Mother’s Day on Sunday, March 8, Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva today said preserving Medicare for current and future retirees is “a fitting way to remember how we support our mothers and grandmothers just as they support us when we need it most.”

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, there are currently 465,400 women receiving Medicare benefits in Arizona. That number is expected to grow as baby boomers become eligible for the program and retirees continue to seek Arizona living destinations.

Women make up fifty-six percent of current Medicare recipients and 70 percent of recipients aged 85 and older. Fifty-seven percent of women on Medicare live below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, compared to 45 percent of men.

“Medicare is one of the greatest gifts we’ve given our daughters, mothers and grandmothers, and it’s important to remember this Sunday that many of them wouldn’t be with us if the program didn’t exist,” Grijalva said. “A conversation about recognizing how important our mothers are in our lives has to acknowledge their needs as well. That’s why I hope everyone takes an opportunity this Mother’s Day to remember Medicare’s role in keeping our families healthy, strong and secure.”

For more information about Medicare in Arizona and nationwide, please visit http://www.medicare.gov.