Florida retiree Bill Cea, a member of the Alliance for Retired Americans’ Executive Board, recently joined Vice President Joe Biden in Coconut Creek FL to discuss plans to cut Medicare that have been advocated by U.S. House Republicans and presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
The FY 2013 budget proposal by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) would give seniors vouchers to either buy health coverage in the costly private insurance market, or purchase it from a Medicare program that would be made more expensive by the exodus of younger, healthier retirees. The plan, which would lower taxes on corporations and high-income earners, would also cut spending on Medicaid and turn it over to cash-strapped states, jeopardizing the only way over 70 percent of seniors are able to afford long-term or nursing home care.
In contrast to Romney, who termed the plan “bold and exciting,” Biden told the gathering of 500 seniors that the proposal would, “balance the budget on the backs of seniors and middle class Americans.”
“Vice President Biden made a powerful presentation to Florida seniors. He understands that Medicare and Social Security are lifelines for millions of retirees,” said Cea, a retired teacher.
Even though the 2010 Affordable Care Act improves Medicare by helping retirees better afford to see a doctor and fill a prescription, Cea is concerned that the law is often misunderstood among older Americans. “I urge all retirees to learn more about how this law helps them pay their medical bills,” he said.
The Alliance has a new fact sheet on the Republican budget proposal, as well as information on how the Affordable Care Act helps seniors.
