issues

• Nearly one-in-three primary care doctors limit the number of Medicare patients they see.
• More than half of doctors say the President’s health care law will compel them to close or restrict their practices to Medicare patients.
• Texas doctors are opting out of Medicare at alarming rates – every year 100 to 200 Texas doctors opt out of participating in Medicare.
• More than 10,000 Baby Boomers are reaching retirement age every single day.
• Americans are living longer – about a decade longer than when Medicare was adopted – and their health status is better.
• While four workers supported each Medicare beneficiary in 2000, it will be just over two workers by 2030.
• Medicare cannot be sustained by simply eliminating waste, fraud and abuse in the system.
• According to the latest Medicare Trustees report, the Medicare Hospital Fund will be insolvent in 2024.

Obamacare Guts Medicare

• The Affordable Care Act (i.e., Obamacare) effectively ended Medicare as we know it.
• President Obama has cut $716 billion from Medicare, but he done nothing to guarantee it will be there for seniors in the future.
• It reduces benefits for both retirees and younger workers.
  • In the absence of Obamacare, today’s new retirees would have received $53,500 in lifetime benefits over and above lifetime taxes and premi­ums paid.
  • Because of Obamacare, today’s new retirees will now receive about $20,700 less in net benefits.

• The impact of Obamacare will be even greater on younger workers. For example:
  • In the absence of Obamacare, individuals who are 45 years old today would have received $44,900 in net benefits at retirement.
  • With the Obamcare reforms, however, individuals who are 45 years old today will pay $11,400 MORE over their lifetime in taxes and premiums than they are expected to receive in benefits.
  • Their reduction in net benefits due to Obamacare reforms is about $56,000.

House Republican Plan (i.e. the Ryan Budget)

• No changes to benefits for anyone at or near retirement age (i.e., anyone 55 or older).
• For younger workers, individuals will be able to choose from multiple guaranteed coverage options which best suits their needs.
• Individuals select where a Medicare benefit check goes to help cover the cost of a plan that YOU choose (i.e. premium support).
• Premium support is NOT a voucher. It is personalized health care coverage.
• Low-income individuals will receive greater support.
• Individuals with higher health risks will receive greater support.
• Wealthier individuals will receive less support.