House Committee Releases Report Outlining Costs for Local Seniors and Medicare from House Budget

Washington, DC, June 7, 2011

This week, the Committee on Energy and Commerce released a report outlining the impact of the budget passed by House Republicans on Medicare. This budget will significantly cut spending for Medicare by eliminating benefits and shifting costs, turn Medicare into a voucher system and increase the eligibility age for Medicare. Larsen is in Northwest Washington this week meeting with local seniors about the work he is doing to protect Medicare.

said Rep. Rick Larsen. "This report outlines the many ways in which the Republican budget will hurt local seniors and slash the critical Medicare benefits that seniors in our community need and deserve. I’ve met with many local seniors who have made it clear to me that they will not stand for these cuts. I will continue to oppose this budget proposal and work to protect Medicare."

In the 2nd Congressional District, the Republican budget would:

Increase prescription drug costs for 7,500 local seniors who fall in the Part D donut hole and force them to pay an additional $74 million for prescription drug costs over the next decade

The average beneficiary will pay $520 more this year and over $9,800 more throughout the next decade

It would also eliminate new preventive care benefits for 110,000 Medicare beneficiaries

As for individuals who are not yet enrolled in Medicare, this budget would have even greater impacts.

560,000 individuals under the age of 54 would be denied access to Medicare

122,000 individuals between the ages of 44 to 54 would see their out-of-pocket health care costs rise by over $6,000 in 2022 and by nearly $12,000 per year in 2032

Would raise the Medicare eligibility age by at least one year for 65,000 individuals in the district who are currently between the ages of 44 to 49 and by two years for 434,000 individuals in the district who are under 43

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"House Republicans are not giving up on their plan to end Medicare as we know it,"

House Committee Releases Report Outlining Costs for Local Seniors and Medicare from House Budget