On Thursday, July 30th, we celebrate
Medicare’s 50th birthday. This will be a joyful day for seniors of
America! After nearly a half century, Medicare
has a lot to be proud of. Thanks to
Medicare, millions of older Americans are able to enjoy retirement without the
fear of medical expenses that could bankrupt us and our families. In this age of shrinking savings and small or
nonexistent pensions, Medicare is more important than ever.
Retirees and workers should be very
concerned over the drastic changes some of our elected officials want to make
that would threaten the dream we all have for a safe and secure retirement.
These changes would include cuts to
Medicare, Medicaid and to Social Security – not to just one of these programs,
but to all three! We have some Governors
actually refusing federal funds that would expand Medicaid in their states. And when it comes to Medicare, many want to
pass costs onto seniors through benefit cuts, means testing, increasing the
Medicare eligibility age, or privatization.
All of this leads us to a clear
conclusion: Medicare remains strong, and is not in any immediate financial
danger. While the long term financial
future of the program is important, there is no need to rush to drastic
action. Unfortunately, too many in
Washington demand harmful Medicare cuts despite all this. They claim that they want to help seniors and
ensure the program’s future. But it
makes no sense to cut benefits now unnecessarily.
Fortunately, we can ensure that
Medicare keeps celebrating birthdays for decades to come. And we can do it without harmful benefit
cuts.
- Congress
should reject proposals like the
Ryan Republican budget that would cut Medicare funding by turning it into a
voucher program. It takes away
traditional Medicare benefits and replaces it with a “coupon” to purchase
insurance in the private marketplace. It
would end Medicare as we know it, leaving us at the mercy of private insurance
companies.
- Congress
should reject proposals that
further means tests Medicare benefits.
Medicare Parts B and D are already means tested for individuals with
incomes over $85,000, and couples with incomes over $170,000. More means testing is a direct attack on the middle class.
- Congress
should also reject proposals
that shift Medicare costs to seniors.
Proposals to charge a surcharge to individuals who have Medigap do not
deal with the rising costs of health care but, instead shifts costs on to
beneficiaries. Likewise, proposals to institute
home health co-pays will penalize those who can least afford it – the oldest,
sickest, and chronically ill.
- Congress also needs to reject proposals like the Ryan Republican budget that raise the eligibility age for Medicare beneficiaries. Proposals that have you wait two more years to get Medicare by raising the eligibility age to 67, leaves you on your own when you are most vulnerable. You’ll either have to find a job that provides coverage, when you are at an age that most employers don’t want to hire you; pay for coverage yourself, at a time in life when your income is likely declining; or become impoverished so you are eligible for Medicaid.
Instead of these awful proposals, Congress should enact the Nelson –
Caster Medicare Drug Savings Act, S. 1083 and H.R. 2005. This legislation, which will require drug
companies to provide discounts to the federal government for low-income
Medicare beneficiaries, will save
the government and taxpayers $121
billion over 10 years. This is a
sensible alternative that will save the Medicare program money without harming
beneficiaries.
Between common sense reforms like
the Medicare Drug Savings Act and the savings from the Affordable Care Act, we
can feel confident about the future of Medicare as it celebrates its 50th
year and we intend to make sure it is still strong now and for our children and
our grandchildren!
Ginny Moles is Senior Caucus Director for the WV Democratic Party.
