Democratic Caucus Seniors Task Force Co-Chairs Statement on Ryan-Wyden Medicare Proposal

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, December 15, 2011

CONTACTS:
Adjoa Adofo (Schakowsky) - 202.225.2111
Alana Juteau (Matsui) - 202.225.7163

Democratic Caucus Seniors Task Force Co-Chairs Statement on Ryan-Wyden Medicare Proposal

Today, House Democratic Caucus Seniors Task Force co-chairs Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) released the following statement in response to a plan to overhaul Medicare proposed by Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR.):

"We share in the concerns expressed by President Obama. The plan announced today andlsquo;would undermine, rather than strengthen, Medicare', and is a poorly-disguised version of Paul Ryan's plan to eliminate Medicare.

The Ryan-Wyden plan would raise Medicare premiums, forcing seniors into private plans where there are no guaranteed benefits. Furthermore, it will make it impossible for Medicare to continue to provide low-cost care for seniors, and it will make seniors carry a greater burden of costs.

We should be strengthening Medicare and protecting our seniors by making the types of reforms established in the Affordable Care Act, not putting in place a plan that will ultimately drive our seniors out of Medicare and into the private market.

The Ryan-Wyden plan is based on a faulty diagnosis and faulty logic - it is no wonder that it proposes the wrong solution."

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