Issue Position: Medicare

Issue Position

Medicare is in trouble. Growing annual deficits are projected to exhaust the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund reserves in 2017, after which the percentage of scheduled benefits payable from tax income would decline from 81% in 2017 to about 50% in 2035. Secondly, since outpatient and drug coverage are financed from general government revenue, Democrats may want to raise taxes and cut your benefits. I won't vote for a tax increase, nor do I think a cut in benefits is the answer. Simply put- there's no feasible way for Medicare to continue in its current capacity.

All reform options should be on the table. Do I support a tax increase? Of course not. Do I want to cut benefits? Of course not. There are several options being discussed such as moving from the "defined benefits" structure to a "defined contributions" structure. This possible reform option would provide participants an option of buying into a health plan of their choice rather than have the government mandate what they are forced to receive.

As your Congressman, it will be my duty to make informed decisions based on the facts, as they exist, using the options available. We simply cannot afford to continue to operate at a deficit and leave our sick and elderly out to dry without medical coverage.

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