Obama Cares for Seniors

by Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans

Of all the lies and confusion that still surround the 2010 health reform law, perhaps the greatest is that the Affordable Care Act, or as some call it “ObamaCare,” is bad for seniors.

This is just plain false. The truth is the new law is helping millions of retirees better afford to see a doctor and fill a prescription. In Arizona, the 65,729 seniors with the highest drug costs have already saved an average of $562 on their prescriptions. In Arizona, 637,233 seniors have received free, life-saving tests for chronic diseases.

The new law strengthens the Medicare Trust Fund by eliminating taxpayer overpayments to insurance companies that provide some Medicare benefits.

Unfortunately the law’s new benefits for seniors are being threatened by what I call the “three R’s” – Repeal, Romney, and Ryan.

The effort to repeal this law is being fueled by the big insurers and other corporations who have long profited handsomely at our expense. They are targeting seniors – the highest turnout voting bloc – with shameless scare tactics and misinformation. So next time your local politician talks repeal, ask them what exactly do they want to take away from us – the lower prescription drug costs? The free annual exams and screenings for diabetes and cancer?

Both presidential candidate Mitt Romney and U.S. House Budget Committee chair Paul Ryan (R-WI), not only want to repeal these new benefits, but also replace traditional Medicare with a voucher program. Under this plan, seniors would receive a small voucher, or coupon, to purchase coverage in the expensive, unfair private insurance market. Unlike Mitt Romney, who on his recent 65th birthday declined Medicare in favor of private coverage, those who are not rich need affordable Medicare to stay healthy.

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http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/03/19/1075693/-Obama-Cares-for-Seniors