ROYAL PALM BEACH, FL - More than 25 SEIU retiree members gathered at the home of Barbara Walker on Tuesday morning to participate in a tele-town hall meeting with President Obama to discuss how the recently passed Affordable Care Act affects senior citizens.

I was grateful to be able to hear directly from the President and Secretary Sebelius about how the new healthcare law will benefit senior citizens," said Elet Cyris, a retired member from SEIU Local 1199 in Royal Palm Beach. "There have been a lot of rumors and conflicting information out there, so it was very helpful to hear about the new healthcare benefits and resources that will be available to seniors."

Discussion topics included protecting and strengthening Medicare, the first installment of $250 rebate checks to help close the "donut hole," ways to prevent seniors from becoming victims of healthcare scams or fraud and how the new law will help reduce costs.

Hyacinth Blackman, a retiree member from SEIU Local 1199 in Greenacres said, "I found the discussion to be very informative and it helped me better understand what the new healthcare law will help families like mine."

SEIU is one of 28 organizations, collectively representing more than 40 million senior citizens, sponsoring tele-town hall watch parties across the country.

With 2.2 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers - not just corporations and CEOs - benefit from today's global economy.

www.seiu.org

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