American Seniors Association Welcomes Plan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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 “There is no question that Medicare needs to be modernized and salvaged since its expenditures are out of control, so today’s bipartisan proposal by U.S. Congressman Paul Ryan, R-WI, and U.S. Ron Wyden, D-OR, is welcomed. Implementation by Congress would ease the burden on taxpayers while introducing private market competition to dramatically control costs,” says Phil Kent, CEO of the American Seniors Association (ASA) representing millions of members nationwide.

“The expensive Obamacare legislation, with its transition period of several years, is already leading to steep declines of healthcare choice and quality,” Kent says. “With regard to Medicare, the government sets prices for thousands of services, and then pays any physician or medical facility based on a visit. This absurd fee schedule applies to the best and the worst medical facility, and bills for the patient visit continue to be sent to the overburdened taxpayer. The Ryan-Wyden proposal seeks to end this growing and unsustainable problem.”

“Under their proposal, seniors would be able to pick from an array of private insurance options of the type utilized by younger workers in the private sector. The Wall Street Journal today writes “This is an important moment because it shows that the serious entitlement debate is taking place within the camp of choice and incentives, not the Obama status quo.”

“The bottom line is that their extensive reform proposals, in the words of Ryan and Wyden, would ensure that Medicare remains the guaranteed, affordable lifeline that its creators envisioned, both for older Americans and for young families paying into the system,” Kent says.

 “President Barack Obama offers no reform and no vision regarding healthcare and Medicare policy – except for government rationing of healthcare services and more debt. In this context, ASA members and all informed Americans should urge their congressmen and senators to seriously consider and debate this new Ryan-Wyden plan as the new year approaches,” Kent says.

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