Letter of the Day: Medicare plans

Medicare plans

EDITOR: Let's get the facts straight about Medicare, the preservation of which should be of vital interest to every American regardless of political affiliation. The cost savings in the Ryan plan and Obama's proposal, an estimated $716 billion, are exactly the same. There are major differences in the plans, however, in that the Democrats' plan is geared to maintain Medicare as it is — guaranteed health care for older Americans while the Ryan plan makes it a voucher system. Seniors get a fixed amount of money to shop for insurance and pay the balance of the cost, an estimated $6,400, if it's not enough. Good luck with that, seniors.

In the Obama plan there are no benefit cuts. The cost savings come from reductions in payments to insurance companies and hospitals. Again, both plans are identical. These are modest, reasonable cost reforms over 10 years needed to keep the program viable.

It was Democrats who conceived of and enacted Medicare. Republicans fought them every step of the way, just as they did on Social Security and the minimum wage. Every advanced country on earth has some form of universal health care. Understand this if nothing else, the Ryan-Romney voucher system ends Medicare. That's a fact and that's the truth. Mull that over, voters.

WILL SHONBRUN

Boyes Hot Springs