Johnson, Seniors Talk About Republican Plan To End Medicare As We Know It

Jun 03 2011

Contact: Perry Plumart, 202-224-1638

Sioux Falls, SD—U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) and South Dakota seniors today discussed the negative impacts of the Republican budget plan to end Medicare as we know it. A cross-section of South Dakota residents told Johnson how the plan would double their out-of-pocket health care costs while reopening the donut hole and increasing prescription drug costs for those already on Medicare.

“Virtually every Republican member of Congress may think it’s a good idea to end Medicare as we know it, but South Dakotans think otherwise,” said Johnson. “Those I spoke with today have made clear just what this plan would do to them – dramatically increase their health care premiums and prescription drug costs and leave them on the hook to pay for wellness exams that are currently free. Simply put, this bill is bad medicine for our seniors.”

Johnson was joined by AARP State Director Sarah Jennings, current Medicare recipient Bob Stevens and Kevin Kavanaugh and Jill Tyler, who discussed how the Republican plan would eliminate Medicare for future recipients.

The Congressional Joint Economic Committee has found that the Republican budget would double out-of-pocket health care costs for individuals turning 65 in 2022. In 2022, South Dakota seniors would pay $5,700 under the Medicare program currently in place, compared to $11,500 under the Republican plan, a difference of $5,800 every year.

The plan doesn’t only increase costs for future Medicare recipients, but for those already taking part in the program as well. The plan reopens the donut hole for prescription drugs, and 4 million seniors nationwide would pay $2.2 billion more for prescription drugs in 2012. They would also have to pay for preventative services like mammograms and annual wellness exams, which are currently free.

“I’m proud to have voted to save Medicare when this proposal came before the Senate. Negotiations are underway with the Vice President and leaders of both parties on a budget for the next fiscal year. I want to see a bipartisan plan that gets our deficit in line and strengthens Medicare, not ends it,” said Johnson.

As negotiations continue between Vice President Biden and Congressional leaders on a mainstream budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year, Johnson has advocated for responsible reforms to strengthen the Medicare program. He has pushed for a common-sense budget proposal that addresses the deficit, gets our spending in line and ensures social safety nets like Medicare are available for future generations.

Today’s tour is one in a series of events Johnson is holding across South Dakota during the Congressional District Work Period. Johnson has also visited Rapid City, Yankton, Pierre and Fort Pierre, and will visit Waubay and Webster later today.