Health Care

On April 15, 2011, House Republicans passed a budget that provides a blueprint for returning our country to fiscal solvency and economic stability. An important element in this blueprint is a plan to save and strengthen our Medicare system. Unfortunately, under the current setup, mandatory spending on programs like Medicare and Medicaid will quickly overtake the budget in the near future and endanger the entire system. If future taxes hold at these levels, spending on these programs will consume all tax revenue by 2052, forcing drastic and harmful cutbacks and changes to the programs. The Republican budget sets out a plan that will save Medicare from this fate.

Under the Republican plan, Americans who are 55 years or older will see no changes in their Medicare coverage. In the future, beneficiaries will receive a premium subsidy from the government to purchase a Medicare-approved health plan of their choice.

Medicare spending will continue to grow every year. However, the rate of growth will slow in order to preserve this important program for future generations. The House Republican plan for saving and strengthening Medicare is based on the same plan that Members of Congress currently have. This plan will encourage competition and help keep health care costs in check.