Promise to seniors is sacred

Over 40 years ago, President Johnson instituted a new American promise.

His promise was clear. After a lifetime of work, America will take care of our seniors during their golden years and ensure they have access to high quality, affordable health care. On July 30, 1965, LBJ fulfilled this promise through the creation of Medicare and enrolled former President Harry Truman, and his wife, Bess, as the first members.

The basics of the program are simple: In most cases, if you’re 65 or over or permanently disabled, the U.S. government guarantees essential medical care to prevent you from being forced into poverty. Medicare is designed to help us and our loved ones with the costs associated with medical care, prescription drugs, nursing home stays, and other ailments. This care is not a hand-out; we all pay into this system and earn eligibility through at least 10 years in the workforce.

GOP assault

Recently in Washington, congressional Republicans have begun efforts to dismantle Medicare. The Republican budget proposes to end Medicare’s promise of guaranteed care and instead institute a voucher system in which seniors would receive a limited voucher payment for their care that is designed to rise slower over time than the cost of medical care. That means that each year that goes by, out-of-pocket health-care costs would increase for those that need it the most.

The impact of this proposal on the 17th Congressional District is staggering. Reports show the Republican plan would deny 440,000 individuals in and around the Mahoning Valley age 54 and younger access to Medicare’s guaranteed benefits in current form. Medicare’s prescription drug program is also on the chopping block; under the congressional Republicans’ plan, 9,100 of our neighbors, friends and family members would experience an increase in prescription drug costs.

In addition to throwing future benefits into question, this plan also dramatically escalates the cost of care. Studies by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office show that — within 10 years of enacting this plan — out-of-pocket health care costs for seniors would skyrocket by over $6,000 a person. After 20 years, additional out-of-pocket costs again jump to over $12,000. Over 102,000 individuals becoming Medicare-eligible in the next 20 years in and around the 17th Congressional District would need to pay an average of $182,000 to $287,000 for the increased cost of health coverage over their lifetime. Our children would pay even more.

The American people have not shied away from speaking up against this plan. In a recent poll, 58 percent preferred to keep Medicare intact. However, instead of listening to the American people, congressional Republicans continue to push to turn Medicare into something neither you nor I would recognize.

Continued access to the Medicare program, and the benefits it guarantees, fulfills the American promise to protect our seniors in their golden years. As the representative for the 17th Congressional District, this is my promise to you: I will not rest until we defeat this plan and protect Medicare for generations to come.

Tim Ryan of Niles is the U.S. representative for the 17th Congressional District.