Young Applauds Bipartisan Proposal for Medicare Reform from Ryan, Wyden

Press Release

Rep. Todd Young (R-IN9) applauded House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) for introducing a proposal to reform and save Medicare on Thursday morning.

"I applaud Representative Ryan and Senator Wyden for working together in bipartisan fashion to produce a specific, workable plan to reform Medicare," said Young. "I look forward to studying their proposal more, but by all accounts it meets the criteria I'd like to see in such a plan: It protects anyone over the age of 55, it preserves and strengthens the program for future generations, and it bends the cost-curve down on one of the single largest drivers of our national debt."

The proposal would not make any changes to Medicare until 2022. Beginning in 2022, enrolling seniors would have the choice of traditional Medicare coverage or choosing a private plan. Those choosing private plans would have part of their premiums paid for by Medicare. The proposal would also enhance coverage for low-income seniors who are also eligible for Medicaid.

"Anytime you talk about trying to save Medicare and make it more reflective of the needs of seniors, Washington politicians cringe and brace for an onslaught of political attacks from the other side," said Young. "By working together across party and chamber lines, Representative Ryan and Senator Wyden have shown that it doesn't have to be that way. Nobody can say this is partisan ideology, and nobody can say this would jeopardize the program because seniors would be given a choice. As I've said before, we can make tough decisions about our unsustainable debt if we're willing to put specific plans on the table. I hope that some form of this plan makes its way into our budget next spring."

More information on the proposal can be found at http://budget.house.gov/bipartisanhealthoptions and http://budget.house.gov/UploadedFiles/WydenRyan.pdf.

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