Mitt Romney Supports Ending Medicare As We Know It
Romney Praised Replacing Medicare With Credits To Buy Private Insurance. According to the National Journal, “Most of Romney’s thinking hugs the conservative mainstream. On foreign policy, he closely follows George W. Bush’s tracks. At home, he passionately accuses unions, especially teachers unions, of impeding innovation and productivity. He wants to retrench Medicaid, the federal-state health care program for the poor, by converting it from an entitlement into a block grant. He praises the House Republican proposal to replace Medicare as it now exists with a credit for seniors to buy private insurance.” [National Journal, 3/6/10]
Romney Wanted To Replace Medicare With Private Insurance. According to a transcript of the Republican presidential debate in Dearborn, Mich. obtained via Political Transcript Wire, Romney said, “And number three, instead of having the federal government give you government insurance, Medicare and federal employee insurance, let’s have private insurance.” [Political Transcript Wire, 10/9/07]
Romney Wrote That Medicare “Could Offer Each Retiree A Credit For A Basic Health Plan.” According to his book “No Apology,” Romney wrote “Medicare, for example, could offer each retiree a credit sufficient for a basic health plan, and individuals could opt to accept that plan or apply the credit toward a more comprehensive and higher-cost plan.” [“No Apology,” 2011, Pg. 180]
Romney Would Sign Paul Ryan Plan Restructuring Medicare Plan And Propose His Own. ABC News The Note reported that “On health care, Romney responded ‘yes’ when asked if he would sign the plan written by Rep. Paul Ryan that would restructure Medicare if it reached his desk as President, but quickly added that he would be offering his own plan. ‘His plan is not the plan I’ll put forward, I have my own plan,’ said Romney. ‘I’ll be putting that out before I debate President Obama.’” [ABC News The Note, 6/2/11 ]
Paul Ryan’s Plan Would Double Out-Of-Pocket Costs For Seniors And “End Medicare As We Know It.”According to the Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel, “The Ryan budget plan would cut federal spending on Medicaid, which provides health care for the poor, and begin distributing money by block grant to states. The plan would do away with Medicare’s direct payment for health care for seniors, replacing it with a voucher system in which recipients choose private insurers. The Congressional Budget Office found that part of the plan, which would take effect in 2022, could nearly double out- of-pocket costs for seniors.” According to an editorial in the Newark Star-Ledger, “Paul Ryan’s plan would ‘end Medicare as we know it.’” [Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, 4/16/11; Newark Star-Ledger Editorial, 4/7/11; Congressional Quarterly Today, Senate GOP Stands Behind Budget, 5/25/11]
Romney Wrote That Medicare Could Adjust Co-Payments And Co-Premiums Upward For “Higher-Income Enrollees.” According to his book “No Apology” Romney wrote “Alternatively, co-payments, deductibles, and co-premiums could be adjusted upward for higher-income enrollees.” [“No Apology,” 2011, Pg. 180]
Published: Jan 1, 2011