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Health & Fitness

Foster Fights To Protect Seniors From Devastating Medicare Cuts

Foster Fights To Protect Seniors From Devastating Medicare Cuts 

Aurora, IL – Congressman Bill Foster joined The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSSM) to discuss the importance of preserving Medicare.  Foster met with seniors in Aurora to share information and answer questions. They discussed the Republican budget proposal, also known as the Ryan budget, which would end Medicare’s guarantee.

“Medicare is a critical safety net that millions of Americans rely on.  We need to work together in Congress to find long-term solutions to strengthen Medicare and ensure it is there for future generations,” said Foster. “The Ryan budget, which House Republicans continue to put forward, would raise costs for seniors, reduce coverage and end Medicare’s guarantee for future generations.  The Ryan budget would be devastating for future generations of seniors and I will continue to fight against it.” 

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“Ryan calls his budget the ‘Path to Prosperity’ but it’s really a ‘highway to hardship.’ The Ryan budget is nothing short of an all-out declaration of war against millions of American families still struggling in our recovering economy.  This is a budget that doubles-down on an ideological quest to turn Medicare into a voucher program, making it harder for seniors to choose their own doctors and ultimately killing traditional Medicare.  If the Ryan budget becomes law, seniors will immediately lose billions in prescription drug savings, free wellness visits and preventative services provided in the ACA, and the Part D donut hole returns,” said Max Richtman, President and CEO of NCPSSM

“Due to my limitations and restrictions in my medical condition, I was disabled from doing what I loved most, because any physical activity I do leaves me in total exhaustion and lowers my energy levels making me feel lightheaded and dizzy.  Seeing the price of one of my medications at $12,000 per month, an inhaled medication that has kept me alive all these years, and not being able to come up with the funds to pay for it would put my life in jeopardy,” said Erica Aponte, a Medicare recipient in Aurora. “I ask that you please continue to provide Medicare benefits so that I and other citizens in the United States of America get protected by Medicare. There are other people in similar situations that would benefit from Medicare as well.  This medical condition has taken part of my life, job, and marriage. If there were to be a cut in the Medicare budget, it would take my life.”  

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The Ryan budget would end the Medicare guarantee, increase costs for seniors and reduce services.  It would raise the eligibility age for Medicare from 65 to 67.  The Ryan Budget would also once again allow insurance companies to deny coverage because of pre-existing conditions, which means that 65 and 66 year olds could be left without insurance.

According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget office, the Ryan budget would likely increase Medicare premiums by 50%.  Additionally, seniors would have to pay more for prescription drugs because the Ryan Budget would re-open the Medicare donut hole.  It would also end free preventative care that seniors now have. 

The Ryan budget proposal was approved by the House of Representatives in April on a vote of 219 to 205.

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