Democrats' Mediscare

Well here we go with the standard Democrat booga-booga treatment, this time for Paul Ryan. The target audience is seniors and the theme is "Paul Ryan will end Medicare as we know it." Booga booga! Of course the dirty little secret that the Dems aren't telling seniors is that Medicare costs are out of control and pretty soon there won't be Medicare for anybody because the system is flat broke. Ryan, on the other hand, respects seniors by being honest with them and proposing changes designed to keep senior health care available. Let's take a look at some facts.

Ryan and Democratic Senator Ron Wyden have proposed an overhaul of the Medicare system designed to keep it solvent and provide the maximum benefits possible. Some particulars:

• People over age 55 continue under the current system. NO CHANGES!
• People under 55 will have the option of a public option or a private option. 
• Right now Medicare pays for services. Because there is no way to predict the services needed in a given year, the system is going broke. Under the Ryan plan, the government will instead pay premium support at an estimated level of $9,300/person/year, which will be indexed. Because the payout is capped the system's costs are predictable. Insurance companies will bid to provide services. People are free to pay higher premiums for plans with more benefits if they wish, but everyone will get a base level of care. In other words, seniors get to choose their own care level. Under the Obama Plan, 15 faceless bureaucrats in Washington will decide who gets what level of care. Which respects seniors more? 

There's more, of course, but these are some easily understood key points. Get the facts and tell seniors the truth - don't let them fall for the fraudulent scare tactics of the Dems.