One Side: Repeal and Cut Medicare Benefits for Wisconsin Seniors
Other Side: “Our seniors deserve the peace of mind and certainty that the programs they’ve been
planning their retirement around will remain intact and be the safety net they’re meant to be.”
MADISON – Today in Green Bay, U.S. Senate candidate Ron Johnson will have an opportunity to explain to Wisconsin seniors how his plans to repeal and cut Medicare benefits will provide them with “peace of mind and certainty that the programs they’ve been planning their retirement around will remain intact and be the safety net they’re meant to be.”
Johnson is speaking today to Wisconsin seniors at the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups’ annual convention in Green Bay at 3:15 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel & Convention Center, 2040 Airport Drive. Johnson told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel last Sunday that he would “rip up” the recently passed health insurance reform law – a move that would cut Medicare benefits for more than 870,000 Wisconsin seniors and threaten the financial stability of the program.
But today his campaign put out a press release where Johnson says, “Our seniors deserve the peace of mind and certainty that the programs they’ve been planning their retirement around will remain intact and be the safety net they’re meant to be.”
“The fact is Ron Johnson wants to rip up the safety net for Wisconsin seniors. His plan for keeping Medicare intact is to repeal reforms that protect Medicare for seniors, reduce their out-of-pocket costs and strengthen the financial stability of Medicare, without cutting a single guaranteed Medicare benefit,” said Mike Tate, Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. “If he thinks he can scam seniors, he’s mistaken.”
Johnson has also praised a plan, that he calls “common sense,” that would abolish Medicare in its current form for everyone currently below age 55, and privatize Social Security. When asked if he supports Medicare, Johnson has said, “Well, it’s, that’s the system we have.” [Up Front With Mike Gousha interview, 5/30/10]. He has also called Social Security a “giant ponzi scheme” and said, “I think you have to take a look at every possibility,” and “I’m certainly not opposed to taking a look at some privatization.” [Johnson Wisconsin Eye Campaign 2010 Interview, 5/26/2010 and Brookfield Chamber of Commerce, 6/21/10] ·
Ron Johnson: “Our seniors deserve the peace of mind and certainty that the programs they’ve been planning their retirement around will remain intact and be the safety net they’re meant to be.”
· Johnson’s repeal plan would take away rebate checks that help seniors pay for prescription drugs.
· Johnson’s repeal plan would open up the prescription drug “donut hole,” increasing out-of-pocket costs for Wisconsin seniors.
· Johnson’s repeal plan would eliminate guaranteed first-dollar coverage for Wisconsin seniors’ preventive and wellness care.
· Johnson’s repeal plan would return to an unfair Medicare reimbursement formula that has penalized Wisconsin medical providers that are focused on high-quality, rather than high-cost care.
· Johnson’s repeal plan would also “rip up” efforts to rein in waste, fraud and abuse, and end overpayments to insurance companies, ensuring tax dollars pay for the highest quality of care.
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