Letters: Romney-Ryan Plan Offers Hollow Promises

Dear Nashua Patch,

Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan have claimed that their Medicare policies will not impact individuals 55 and older.  This is highly unlikely.

To begin with, Romney and Ryan have promised to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare, which extends the life of the Medicare Part A Trust Fund from 2016 to 2024.  Obama’s plan also begins closing the notorious prescription drug “doughnut” hole and provides Medicare beneficiaries with free preventive care.

If Obamacare is repealed, the Trust Fund will again be exhausted in 2016, the doughnut hole will be reopened, and the preventive services will be eliminated.  

These actions will certainly impact individuals age 55 and older and make a mockery of the Romney/Ryan pledge.

Repealing Obamacare will also affect older adults who need coverage in the individual, or nongroup, insurance market.  These individuals generally face much higher costs than those covered by an employer.  Repealing the ACA will remove benefits designed to assist individuals not covered by an employer.

Finally, under Ryan’s plan for Medicare, insurance companies would be likely to engage in “cherry-picking,” i.e., offering inducements to attract the youngest and healthiest Medicare beneficiaries.  This would leave less healthy and older beneficiaries in traditional Medicare, likely causing out-of-pocket costs there to skyrocket.

The Romney/Ryan promise that their Medicare proposals will not impact people over age 55 is likely to prove a hollow one.

Sincerely,

Stephen Gorin

Canterbury