Jun 17, 2011
FACT CHECK: New 60 Plus Ad Makes False and Misleading Claims about Republican Budget
A new television ad by 60 Plus – a controversial and conservative special interest group that has long fought to privatize Medicare and Social Security – makes false and misleading claims about the House Republican budget. They falsely claimed that the House Republican plan would protect Medicare, not harm existing seniors and provide care like Members of Congress receive.
In reality, the Republican plan would end Medicare, cut benefits for existing seniors and does not provide health care like Members of Congress have.
FALSE CLAIM: “Republicans wrote the plan that makes needed Medicare reform and protects seniors”
FACT CHECK:
Wall Street Journal: The House Republican Budget for 2012 Would “Essentially End Medicare.” “The plan would essentially end Medicare, which now pays most of the health-care bills for 48 million elderly and disabled Americans, as a program that directly pays those bills.” [Wall Street Journal, 4/4/11]
Republican Budget Would Almost Double Healthcare Costs For Seniors. “The Republican congressman's proposal to privatize Medicare would mean a dramatic hike in U.S. healthcare costs for the elderly, an independent analysis finds. Seniors would pay almost double — more than $12,510 a year.” [Los Angeles Times, 4/7/11]
Republican Budget Will Lead to Rationing. The Wall Street Journal reported that Republican plan would lead to “great limits” on coverage for many Americans. According to the newspaper, “The House Republican plan for overhauling Medicare would fundamentally change how the federal government pays for health care … likely resulting in higher out-of-pocket costs and greater limits to coverage for many Americans.” [Wall Street Journal, 4/6/11]
NCPSSM: GOP Budget Plan Destroys Medicare and Cuts Social Security Benefits. In April 2011, Max Richtman, executive vice-president of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, was quoted in a news release stating that the Republican budget would destroy Medicare. “Over time, this will destroy the only health insurance program available to 47 million Americans,” said Richtman. [NCPSSM press release, 4/5/11]
FALSE CLAIM: “No change occurs to Medicare for anybody on Medicare or ten years away from retiring”
FACT CHECK:
Republican Plan Would Affect Current Seniors. “Republicans say their Medicare plan wouldn’t affect anybody near retirement age. But it would. Republicans are convinced that burnishing the public’s view of their unpopular proposal to overhaul Medicare depends on assuring today’s seniors that they won’t be affected […] There’s only one problem with the strategy: It’s not true. The policies in the House GOP budget, if enacted, would begin affecting millions of seniors almost immediately by increasing their costs for prescription drugs and probably long-term care. Further, Medicare costs could rise over time if healthier seniors choose to abandon the traditional benefit program.” [National Journal, 6/2/11]
Under the Republican Budget, Medicare Beneficiaries Would Pay More for Their Prescription Drugs. According to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, under the Republican budget, “important benefits – such as closing the hole in Medicare’s drug coverage – would be immediately eliminated.” The Republican budget would increase prescription drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries who enter the Part D donut hole, forcing them to pay an extra $132 million for drugs over the next decade. [House Energy and Commerce Committee, 6/11]
The Republican Budget Would Cut New Preventative Care Benefits. According to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the Republican budget would cut new preventive care benefits. [House Energy and Commerce Committee, 6/11]
Republican Budget Jeopardizes Nursing Home Care. According to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the Republican budget would reduce the federal contribution to Medicaid by nearly $800 billion over the next decade. It would reduce coverage for dual eligible seniors and individuals with disabilities who rely on Medicaid to supplement their healthcare coverage. It would also jeopardize nursing home care for people in whose expenses are paid by Medicaid. [House Energy and Commerce Committee, 6/11]
FALSE CLAIM: “And future seniors get guaranteed health care choices…like members of Congress.”
FACT CHECK:
Washington Post Called Comparison “False and Misleading.” “During the congressional recess, Rep. Ryan and other Republican lawmakers have been selling their proposal to restructure Medicare with what appears to be a poll-tested phrase: It will be similar to a system ‘just like’ what members of Congress have. The phrase pops up in all sorts of news releases and interviews with members of Congress, as well as no less than five times in the budget plan crafted by Rep. Ryan. […] We think the reference to the health plan for members of Congress gives a false and misleading impression to ordinary people. Two Pinocchios.” [Washington Post, 4/29/11]
PolitiFact Said the Coverage Plans Are “Fundamentally Different.” The Republican’s Medicare proposal included in their budget is “fundamentally different from the kind of employer-provided health insurance that members of Congress receive.” [POLITIFACT, 4/13/11]
NYT: Proposal for Medicare Is Unlike Federal Employee Plan. “House Republicans say their budget proposal would make Medicare work just like the health insurance that covers federal employees, including members of Congress. But a close examination shows the two plans are very different, and the differences help explain why the Republican plan has set off a political uproar.” [NY Times, 5/1/11]
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