DSCC: New DSCC Ad: Arkansas Can’t Trust Tom Cotton to Protect Medicare

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 -- The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee issued the following news release:

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is releasing a new ad (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENWWtOOMFtQ&feature=youtu.be) in Arkansas today that sets the record straight on Tom Cotton's plan to end Medicare as we know it. The ad features Andrea Schafer of Lonoke, Arkansas who charges, "I can't believe that Tom Cotton would go on TV and talk about Medicare, it's not honest." The truth is, Tom Cotton voted to cut Medicare and to turn it into a voucher program, and would force Arkansas seniors to pay more for prescriptions.

To watch "Honest," click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENWWtOOMFtQ&feature=youtu.be

"Arkansans can't trust Congressman Tom Cotton to protect Medicare--he voted to cut Medicare and turn it into a voucher program, and would force seniors to pay more for prescription drugs," said Justin Barasky, Communications Director at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. "Arkansas deserves a Senator that protects Social Security and Medicare, not Tom Cotton, who isn't honest with Arkansans about his record on Medicare."

This is the third DSCC ad that highlights how Tom Cotton is wrong for Arkansas seniors.

BACKUP:

CLAIM

DOCUMENTATION

AUDIO: Medicare gives me peace of mind. It's knowing that if I get sick, I'll be taken care of.

TEXT: Peace of mind.

TEXT: Andrea Schafer

Lonoke, AR

AUDIO: I can't believe that Tom Cotton would go on TV and talk about Medicare. It's not honest.

TEXT: Tom Cotton Ad

AUDIO:* He voted to cut Medicare.

TEXT: Tom Cotton: Cut Medicare

TEXT: Vote 177, 4/10/14; Vote 175, 4/10/14; Vote 88, 3/21/13; Vote 86, 3/20/13

COTTON VOTED FOR BUDGETS THAT WOULD CUT MEDICARE BENEFITS

Cotton Voted For FY 2015 Ryan Budget, Which Would Repeal Affordable Care Act. In April 2014, Cotton voted for passage of the Ryan Budget that "includes a full repeal of ObamaCare. Ryan did not lay out the parameters of a replacement, or say what would happen to those who have already obtained coverage under the new healthcare law. But Ryan, seen as a future GOP White House hopeful, said the law was a 'costly mistake' that needed to be replaced. [H Con Res 96, Vote 177, 4/10/14; The Hill, 4/1/14]

Cotton Voted For FY2014 Ryan Budget, Which Would Repeal Affordable Care Act. In March 2013, Cotton voted for FY 2014 Ryan Budget, which "assumes that the health law is repealed and defunded. The budget generates about half of its spending cuts from defunding the law. Ryan's budget eliminates health law revenues Republicans found objectionable, such as the tax on medical devices or health insurance, but it does keep the law's $716 billion in cuts to Medicare. His plan would also eliminate the controversial Independent Payment Advisory Board. It would keep Obamacare's Medicare spending growth cap of 0.5 percent, which IPAB is meant to police, but does not say how to enforce it. 'As we did last year, our budget repeals Obamacare and all of its tax increases,' Ryan spokesman William Allison said in an email. 'It also calls for fundamental tax reform because we believe there's a better to way to fund the government than through our broken Tax Code. That's why we repeal Obamacare and enact comprehensive tax reform.'" [Vote 88, 3/21/13, Politico, 3/13/14]

Cotton Voted For FY2015 Republican Study Committee Budget That Promised To Fully Repeal The Affordable Care Act. In 2014, Cotton voted for the Woodall, R-Ga., substitute amendment that would provide for $2.744 trillion in new budget authority in fiscal 2015, not including off-budget accounts. The budget promised to fully repeal the Affordable Care Act. [H. Con. Res. 96; CQ; Vote #175, 4/10/14; Republican Study Committee 'Back To Basics, A Fiscal Year 2015 Budget']

Cotton Voted For FY 2014 Republican Study Budget, Which Would Repeal Provisions Of Affordable Care Act That Closed The Medicare Part D Coverage Gap. In 2013, Cotton voted for the Republican Study Committee budget that "would assume the transformation of Medicare into a premium support program that would compete against private plans." The budget would increase Medicare eligibility age to 70 and would repeal provisions of the law that close the Medicare Part D coverage gap. The budget was rejected by a vote of 104-132. [CQ; H Con Res 25, Vote #86, 3/20/13]

Cotton Voted To Eliminate Free Preventative Services, Such As Cancer Screenings, For Seniors On Medicare Today. Cotton voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. According to PolitiFact, The Affordable Care Act included "preventive care with no out-of-pocket costs. Everyone on Medicare is now eligible for free preventive care as a result of President Barack Obama's health care law. Seniors' annual wellness visits would be covered, as well as flu shots and a number of screenings for cervical cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, HIV, and cholesterol (complete list is here). These services would not require co-pays." [ CQ; Vote 86, 3/20/13; Vote 88, 3/21/13; PolitiFact, 8/18/12]

* Cotton Supported Repealing Annual Wellness Visits And Free Cancer Screens For Seniors. According to PolitiFact, "Preventive care with no out-of-pocket costs. Everyone on Medicare is now eligible for free preventive care as a result of President Barack Obama's health care law. Seniors' annual wellness visits would be covered, as well as flu shots and a number of screenings for cervical cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, HIV, and cholesterol (complete list is here). These services would not require co-pays." [PolitiFact, 8/18/12]

Cotton Voted To Eliminate Free Yearly Wellness Visit For Seniors On Medicare. Cotton voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. According to the AARP, "Until Jan. 1 [2011], Medicare did not cover any routine exams except for the 'Welcome to Medicare' exam for new beneficiaries. The Affordable Care Act created the once-a-year wellness visit as a new benefit, paying doctors to perform it and making it free to patients. By the end of June, Medicare had paid for nearly 1 million such visits, according to CMS." [CQ; Vote 86, 3/20/13; Vote 88, 3/21/13; AARP, 7/22/11]

Cotton Would End Doctor Visits Without Co-Payments Or Deductibles. According to Consumer Reports, the health care law included "Free preventive care and annual checkups. The law focuses on prevention and primary care to help people stay healthy and to manage chronic medical conditions before they become more complex and costly to treat. New private health plans must cover and eliminate cost-sharing (co-payment, co-insurance, or deductible) for proven preventive measures such as immunizations and cancer screenings. Additional preventive measures for women kicked in August 2012, including free well-woman visits, screening for gestational diabetes, domestic violence screening, breast-feeding supplies, and contraception, all with no cost-sharing." [Consumer Reports, March 2013]

Over 400,000 Arkansas Seniors Received Free Services In 2013. According to the Center on Medicare and Medicaid Services, 400,382 Arkansas seniors received free preventative services under the Affordable Care Act. [Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Beneficiaries Utilizing Free Preventative Services By State 2013]

Arkansas Seniors Saved Over $50 Million On Preventative Services, Such As Cancer Screenings And Flu Shots. According to the Center on Medicare and Medicaid Services, Arkansas Seniors saved $50,287,595 on free preventative services under the Affordable Care Act. [Medicare Report, Center on Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2012]

AUDIO: He wants to make it a voucher.

TEXT: Tom Cotton: Replace It With A Voucher.

TEXT: Vote 177, 4/10/14; Vote 175, 4/10/14; Vote 88, 3/21/13; Vote 86, 3/20/13

COTTON REPEATEDLY VOTED TO MAKE MEDICARE A VOUCHER PROGRAM

Cotton Voted For FY 2015 Ryan Budget. In April 2014, Cotton voted for passage of the Ryan Budget that would turn "Medicare into a premium support program but also maintaining the program's $716 billion in savings from the 2010 health care law. The fiscal 2015 budget proposal, introduced by Budget Chairman Paul D. Ryan, would repeal most of the health care overhaul (PL 111-148, PL 111-152) and change Medicaid into a block grant program." [H Con Res 96, Vote 177, CQ, 4/1/14]

* Ryan Budget Would "Turn Medicare Into A Voucher Program." "Ryan would cut Obamacare benefits but retain its tax increases and reductions in payments to providers. It would also turn Medicare into a voucher program -- Republicans call it 'premium support' -- for those who enroll in the program beginning in 2024." [Politico, 4/6/14]

* Ryan Budget Included "Now-Familiar Plans To Partially Privatize Medicare Through An Option Premium Support System." As reported by The Hill, "The proposal contains Ryan's now-familiar plans to partially privatize Medicare through an option premium support system while block-granting Medicaid to the states." [The Hill, 4/1/14]

* CQ: "Ryan Budget Would Turn Medicare Into Premium Support Program." "The House Republican budget proposal released on Tuesday largely repeats previous health care ideas, including turning Medicare into a premium support program but also maintaining the program's $716 billion in savings from the 2010 health care law. The fiscal 2015 budget proposal, introduced by Budget Chairman Paul D. Ryan, would repeal most of the health care overhaul (PL 111-148, PL 111-152) and change Medicaid into a block grant program. Ryan, R-Wis., stuck closely to health care changes he has proposed in previous budgets. Among those changes is a plan to make Medicare a premium support program beginning in 2024. Beneficiaries entering the program then would receive a set payment from the government to put toward premiums for a plan on a new exchange that includes traditional fee-for-service Medicare. All plans on the Medicare exchange would be required to offer insurance to any beneficiary." [CQ, 4/1/14]

* AARP: Republican Budget Would Remove the Medicare Guarantee. "Chairman Ryan's proposed budget fails to address the high costs of health care and instead shifts costs onto seniors and future retirees. Repealing the benefits of the Affordable Care Act ignores the progress we've made to improve access to health care and protect against discrimination based on age, gender or medical history. Removing the Medicare guarantee of affordable health coverage for older Americans by implementing a premium support system and asking seniors and future retirees to pay more is not the right direction." [AARP Press Release, 4/01/14]

Cotton Voted For Republican Study Committee Budget That Would Turn Medicare Into Premium-Support Program. In 2014, Cotton voted for the extreme Republican Study Committee budget that changed the formula for cost-of-living adjustments to government-wide chained CPI. The RSC believes we should save Medicare from bankruptcy by transitioning to a solvent premium-support system, as passed in previous House Republican Budgets. This preserves traditional Medicare for current seniors and future seniors in 2019 and beyond will enjoy the reduced costs, increased choice, and quality care provided by this reform. In order to shore up Medicare's solvency and to keep pace with increases in longevity, the RSC proposal embraces Ronald Reagan'sSocial Security reform by slowly phasing in an increase in the Medicare eligibility age at a rate of two months per year, beginning in 2024, until it reaches 67." The budget was rejected by a vote of 104-132. [CQ; H Con Res 96, Vote 175, 4/10/14; Republican Study Committee Back To Basic FY 2015 Budget]

* RSC Budget Turns Medicare Into A Voucher Program Much More Quickly Than Ryan Budget. "On Medicare, both plans are broadly similar, except the RSC would affect more individuals closer to retirement. Both plans offer future seniors the option of purchasing future private insurance using government premium support in lieu of traditional Medicare. The RSC plan starts for seniors in 2019, rather than 2024." [The Hill, 4/8/2014]

Cotton Voted for FY 2014 Ryan Budget. In 2013, Cotton voted for passage of the controversial Ryan Budget that would "[restructure] of Medicare into a "premium support" system beginning in 2024. It would call for an overhaul of the tax code, under which the alternative minimum tax would be repealed, the six current individual income tax brackets would be consolidated into two and tax credits and deductions would be eliminated or curtailed. The budget was adopted by a vote of 221-207. [CQ; H Con Res 25, Vote 88, 3/21/13]

* Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: Ryan Budget "Would Transform Medicare Into A Voucher-Like System Known As Premium Support." At a time when retiring baby boomers and mounting medical prices have made federal health-care spending the biggest single driver of the nation's rising debt, the House budget from Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., would transform Medicare into a voucher-like system known as premium support, which Obama and Democrats adamantly oppose. But Cantor, like Obama, is suggesting cost-saving changes within the existing Medicare program. "[Arkansas-Democrat Gazette, 3/29/13]

* CBPP: Medicare "Beneficiaries Would Have To Pay Higher Premiums To Participate In Traditional Medicare." According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, "In areas where Medicare incurs relatively high costs, the amount of the premium-support payment would equal the cost of a relatively inexpensive private plan, and beneficiaries would have to pay higher premiums to participate in traditional Medicare." [CBPP, 3/15/13]

* CBPP: Seniors Would Have To Pay More To Keep The Health Plans And The Doctors They Like. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, "Over time, seniors would have to pay more to keep the health plans and the doctors they like, or they would get fewer benefits." [CBPP, 3/15/13]

* CNN: Ryan Plan Would Provide Seniors Subsidies With Government Subsidies To Purchase Private Insurance. According to CNN, "Workers who turn 65 in 2024 or later would be able to choose between a variety of private health insurance plans, along with the traditional Medicare option. They receive a subsidy from the federal government to cover or offset the cost of their Medicare premium. The subsidy would cover the cost of the second-least-expensive private plan or the Medicare option, whichever is less, in the first year. So if seniors select pricier coverage, they would have to pay the difference in cost. And they would receive a rebate if they selected a cheaper plan." [CNN, 3/12/13]

Cotton Voted for Republican Study Committee Budget That Transformed Medicare Into Voucher System For Seniors. In 2013, Cotton voted for the Republican Study Committee budget that "would assume the transformation of Medicare into a premium support program that would compete against private plans." The budget was rejected by a vote of 104-132. [CQ; H Con Res 25, Vote 86, 3/20/13]

* The Hill: RSC Budget Turns Medicare Into A Voucher Program At A Faster Rate Than The Ryan Budget. As reported by The Hill: "The key difference between the two proposals [the RSC and Ryan budgets] is the plan to overhaul Medicare. While Ryan calls for implementing his 'premium support' plan for future beneficiaries age 54 and younger, the RSC budget would start the change for people 59 and below." [The Hill, 3/15/13]

* The Republican Study Committee Budget Would Implement Medicare Vouchers As Early As 2019, And This Change Would Only Exempt Those Currently 60 And Older. "The RSC believes that Medicare should transition to a solvent premium-support system, as proposed by the House Republican Budget, which saves Medicare from bankruptcy and provides competition, choice, and quality care for seniors. The RSC implements this reform in 2019. This reform would have no impact on individuals 60 and older." [Republican Study Committee FY 2014 Budget, accessed 5/10/13]

TURNING MEDICARE INTO A VOUCHER WOULD RAISE SENIORS' COSTS

WSJ: "Some Remaining in Traditional Medicare Might Pay More" Under Ryan FY 2015 Budget. As reported by the Wall Street Journal, "People who are now aged 56 and older would be exempt from any changes, but younger people would automatically face the premium support choice going forward. Last year people aged 55 and older were exempt. Some Democrats have been receptive to this idea, but many others have said it would allow Republicans eventually to dismantle Medicare. The plan also tweaked how to calculate the government's contribution so seniors in many private plans would see their costs go down, compared to current law, though some remaining in traditional Medicare might pay more." [Wall Street Journal, 4/1/14]

* FY15 Ryan Budget Turned Medicare Into A Voucher Program. According to the LA Times, "Ryan retained his idea for turning the Medicare health system into a voucher-like program for future seniors, providing a fixed amount of cash that can be applied toward the purchase of private health insurance. The voucher may also be used to enroll in traditional Medicare, but it may not fully cover the cost. Republicans once promised that the Medicare changes would not start on anyone older than 55, but under Ryan's budget they would apply to those who are no older than 56 as of this year." [LA Times, 4/1/14]

* Ryan Budget Vouchers Were Not Guaranteed To Cover The Full Cost Of Traditional Medicare. According to LA Times, "Ryan retained his idea for turning the Medicare health system into a voucher-like program for future seniors, providing a fixed amount of cash that can be applied toward the purchase of private health insurance. The voucher may also be used to enroll in traditional Medicare, but it may not fully cover the cost." [LA Times, 4/11/14]

* CBO Found Premium Support Plans Would Increase Premiums By 50 Percent For Traditional Medicare. According to the The Congressional Budget Office, or CBO, previously found that under a premium support plan, premiums would increase by 50 percent for traditional Medicare. Despite all of the outrage from House Republicans about the changes made by the Affordable Care Act, their budget would mean that many seniors would not get to keep their same insurance and doctors. [Center for American Progress, 4/1/14]

* The FY 2015 Ryan Budget Will Force Seniors To Pay More To Remain In Medicare. Under the Ryan budget proposal, more than 45 million seniors could be forced to choose between traditional Medicare and a voucher program starting in 2024. According to a previous Congressional Budget Office report, the proposal would force seniors who want to remain in traditional Medicare to pay $800 more per year than they would have under current law, raising premiums by 50 percent. Furthermore, seniors electing to stay in traditional Medicare and avoid buying private insurance will pay $1,200 more than seniors in private plans. Private plans would be permitted to tailor benefit packages to attract healthier beneficiaries and leave the sicker, more expensive patients for Medicare. Over time, Medicare would become less financially viable and would have to raise premiums, driving away more healthy beneficiaries and setting off a premium spiral that could unravel the program. [House Republican Budget Chairman's Mark, 4/1/14; CBO, 9/13/14; Census, 2010; CAP, 4/1/14; DPCC, 3/13/13; CBPP,3/15/13]

FY 2014 Ryan Budget Revives Controversial Proposal to Convert Medicare Into Voucher System. As reported by Politico, "It revives Ryan's controversial proposal to convert Medicare into a system of limited subsidies to help seniors buy private insurance or traditional Medicare coverage, and again reaps more than $700 billion in Medicare savings from Obamacare that he criticized on the campaign trail as Romney's running mate. He would also expand means-testing of Medicare premiums for wealthy seniors, an idea he notes has been endorsed by Obama in the past." [Politico, 3/12/13]

* HEADLINE - Why the Republican Plan to Reform Medicare Could Really Make It More Expensive. [National Journal, 3/11/13]

* "It Turns Out That Government Insurance is Much Cheaper Than Private Coverage."As reported by the National Journal, "There's just one catch: The private policies will cost about 50 percent more than traditional Medicaid, according to the Congressional Budget Office. And that doesn't even count the extra benefits Washington will cover. It turns out that government insurance is much cheaper than private coverage--pitting the GOP principles of fiscal prudence and private enterprise against each other. Buying commercial coverage for poor Arkansans will bring the state and nation closer to the Republican health care vision, in which everyone shops for individual policies in a competitive marketplace. Too bad that approach doesn't save money. 'It's ironic,' Beebe said during an interview, laughing as he spoke on the phone. 'That's all I'm going to say about that.'" [National Journal, 3/11/13]

* "Evidence Suggests That Private Insurance Will Be More, Not Less, Expensive Than the Public Programs It Would Replace." As reported by the National Journal, "The trouble is, in Medicare--as in the Arkansas Medicaid program--available evidence suggests that private insurance will be more, not less, expensive than the public programs it would replace. Just as CBO estimated that private-exchange coverage would cost much more than conventional Medicaid, it also found that the Ryan plan would result in per capita Medicare costs that are higher than the traditional program could reach over time. (Should those costs rise in this way, Ryan's budget would keep the difference off the government's books by asking seniors to pay a growing share.) Advocates of premium support dispute these estimates, but they acknowledge a dearth of research to prove that costs would grow more slowly in a competitive system." [National Journal, 3/11/13]

* CBO: GOP Budget Would Result in Higher Medicare Costs Than the Traditional Program Could Reach Over Time. As reported by the National Journal, "Just as CBO estimated that private-exchange coverage would cost much more than conventional Medicaid, it also found that the Ryan plan would result in per capita Medicare costs that are higher than the traditional program could reach over time. (Should those costs rise in this way, Ryan's budget would keep the difference off the government's books by asking seniors to pay a growing share.) Advocates of premium support dispute these estimates, but they acknowledge a dearth of research to prove that costs would grow more slowly in a competitive system." [National Journal, 3/11/13]

* FY2014 Ryan Budget Ends Medicare's Promise of Guaranteed Benefits, Forces Seniors to Pay More for Benefits. According to the Center for American Progress, "One key element of both of the past two House Republican budgets offered by Rep. Ryan is an end to traditional Medicare. This budget is no different. Once again, the budget ends Medicare's promise of guaranteed benefits and replaces it with vouchers to purchase private insurance or Medicare. As insurance companies cherry picked the healthiest seniors to join their plans, traditional Medicare would be left with the sickest, most expensive patients, leading to a downward death spiral for traditional Medicare. At the same time, the value of the vouchers would not keep up with the rising cost of health care, allowing insurance companies to reap big profits as seniors would be forced to pay more for the same benefits they have now. This issue was extensively litigated during the 2012 election, and the American people rejected Rep. Ryan's and the Republicans' approach." [Center for American Progress, 3/12/13]

* HEADLINE - The Ryan Budget Includes Devastating Health Care Cost Increases for Seniors - Again. [Center for American Progress, 3/12/13]

* "Under Ryan Plan, Seniors Will Be Forced to Spend Thousands of Dollars More on Health Care During Retirement." According to the Center for American Progress, "Although the plan again fails to specify how the cap on Medicare spending would be enforced, converting all Medicare spending to vouchers suggests that the capped growth rate would be enforced by limiting the value of the vouchers provided to seniors. As a result, the vouchers proposed by the Ryan budget will become increasingly inadequate in their ability to help seniors purchase a health plan Under the Ryan plan, seniors will be forced to spend thousands of dollars more on health care during retirement. Those who are unable or unprepared for these dramatic increases will be forced to either reduce spending in other areas or forgo needed care." [Center for American Progress, 3/12/13]

* "If Costs Per Enrollee Continue to Grow, Beneficiaries Would Have to Pay an Additional Premium to Make Up the Difference." According to the Bipartisan Policy Center, "Additionally, if costs per enrollee continued to grow faster than the cap of GDP+0.5%, beneficiaries would have to pay an additional premium to make up the difference. For reference, CBO's latest projection is that Medicare will grow at GDP+0.6% per beneficiary from 2024-2029 and faster than GDP+1% thereafter (starting at GDP+1.5% in 2030 and slowly declining) under current law, which assumes that the cuts from PPACA remain in place and are effective. If the backstop mentioned above went into place, the Ryan proposal would protect dual eligibles and some other low-income beneficiaries." [Bipartisan Policy Center, 3/12/13]

* NPSSM: Ryan Plan Would Allow Insurance Companies To Tailor Their Plans In Order To Attract Healthy Seniors, Making Traditional Medicare More Expensive For Older And Sicker Seniors. According to the National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare, "The Ryan budget proposal calls for private plans to provide benefits that are at least actuarially equivalent to the benefit package provided by fee-for-service Medicare. This gives private companies the ability to tailor their plans to attract the youngest and healthiest seniors, even if payments are "risk adjusted" to take health status into account, which would leave traditional Medicare with older and sicker beneficiaries. Their higher health costs could lead to higher premiums that people would be unable or unwilling to pay, resulting in a death spiral for traditional Medicare. This would adversely impact people age 55 and older, including people currently enrolled in traditional Medicare, despite Chairman Ryan's assertion that nothing will change for them." [NCPSSM, March 2013]

AUDIO: And he'd make our prescriptions more expensive.

TEXT: Tom Cotton: Make Seniors Pay More.

TEXT: Vote 177, 4/10/14; Vote 175, 4/10/14; Vote 88, 3/21/13; Vote 86, 3/20/13

COTTON VOTED FOR RECKLESS BUDGET PLANS THAT WOULD RE-OPEN THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG DONUT HOLE, COSTING SENIORS UP TO $1,700 MORE A YEAR

Cotton Voted For Budgets That Would Reopen The Medicare Part D "Donut Hole" For Prescription Drugs. Cotton voted for the FY 2014 and FY 2015 Ryan Budgets and FY 2014 and 2015 Republican Study Committee budgets. Each of the budgets would repeal the Affordable Care Act. According to CNN: "People with Medicare can pay a monthly premium for outpatient prescription drug coverage. In 2010, enrollees paid 100% of their drug costs up to $310. For costs above that figure, they paid 25% of the total until that total reached $2,800. Once that figure had been reached, beneficiaries were responsible for the full cost of their drugs until they had spent $4,550 -- after which, their share usually dropped to 5%. That coverage gap is referred to as the 'donut hole.' The Affordable Care Act changed the formula. In 2010, Medicare recipients who hit the prescription drug donut hole received a $250 rebate. Last year, people with Medicare who reached the donut hole got a 50 percent discount on covered brand-name drugs and a discount on generic drugs. Recipients will pay less and less until 2020, when they will be responsible for only 25% of the cost of their drugs until they reach the yearly out-of-pocket spending limit, according to a 2010 posting on healthcare.gov by Jonathan Blum, director for the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services." [Vote 86, 3/20/13; Vote 88, 3/21/13; Vote 175, 4/10/14; Vote 177, 4/10/14; The Hill, 4/1/14; Politico, 3/13/14; Republican Study Committee 'Back To Basics, A Fiscal Year 2015 Budget'; Republican Study Committee, Back to Basics: A Fiscal Year 2014 Budget; CNN, 4/10/12]

Re-Opening The Prescription Drug Donut Hole Would Increase Prescription Costs For Seniors By Up To $1,720 A Year. According to PolitiFact, The Affordable Care Act included closing the prescription drug doughnut hole. "The law gradually closes the so-called 'doughnut hole' for seniors on the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program over 10 years. Before the law, seniors whose annual drug costs exceeded $2,830 shouldered the entire payment without government assistance until they hit an out of pocket limit of $4,550. Once 'catastrophic coverage' is triggered, the government paid 95 percent of costs. The health care law gives beneficiaries who reach the doughnut hole a $250 tax-free rebate. Federal subsidies will kick in, gradually reducing the patient's share of the payment from 100 percent to 25 percent by 2020. Plus, seniors in the doughnut hole receive a 50 percent discount on covered brand-name drugs." [PolitiFact, 8/24/12]

Re-Opening Medicare Part D Doughnut Hole Would Increase Costs For 7.3 Million Seniors By An Average Of $1,200Per Person. The Ryan budget would repeal provisions of the law that closed the prescription drug donut hole. According to the Hill, "ObamaCare has saved seniors and people with disabilities nearly $9 billion in prescription drug costs, according to data touted Tuesday by the Obama administration. According to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, 7.3 million people who reached the 'doughnut hole' in their Medicare prescription drug coverage have saved $8.9 billion on their prescription drugs since the law was enacted in 2010. That's an average savings of $1,209 per person." [The Hill, 11/26/13]

CAP: Ryan Plan Would Force Seniors To Pay $1,200 More Each Year By 2030 - And As Much As $5,900 More Each Year By 2050. The Center for American Progress found, "As illustrated in the Center for American Progress's analysis of last year's nearly identical Ryan plan, the premium-support plan would force seniors to pay $1,200 more each year by 2030--and as much as $5,900 more each year by 2050. The first seniors impacted by these changes could pay up to $59,500 more during retirement, while seniors who reach eligibility in 2050 could pay up to $331,200 more. [Center for American Progress, 3/13/13]

Repealing The Affordable Care Act Means 3 To 4 Million Seniors Would Immediately Have The Medicare Part D Donut Hole Re-Opened And "Face Significant Out-Of-Pocket Costs." According to National Journal, "Ryan's plan to convert Medicare into a limited insurance subsidy, the most controversial aspect of the budget, wouldn't take effect until 2022. But the proposal would also repeal last year's health care law, which means reopening a coverage gap in Medicare's prescription-drug benefit that the statute closed. The gap, commonly called the 'doughnut hole,' requires seniors to pay 100 percent of any prescription costs after the annual total reaches $2,840 and until it hits $4,550. Those who spend more or less have at least three-quarters of the costs covered. Under the 2010 health law, Medicare will pay 7 percent of the cost of generic drugs and 50 percent on name-brand pharmaceuticals; by 2020, the doughnut hole will be closed. If Congress were to pass Ryan's plan and repeal the law, as House Republicans want, the 3 million to 4 million seniors left in the doughnut hole each year would immediately face significant out-of-pocket costs. They and all other Medicare beneficiaries would also lose access to a host of preventive-care benefits in the health care law, including free wellness visits to physicians, mammograms, colonoscopies, and programs to help smokers quit." [National Journal, 6/2/11]

Before Donut Hole Was Closed, Seniors Were Responsible For Prescription Drug Costs Over $2,840 Until They Hit $6,448, Making Seniors Responsible For $3,608. "The Ryan budget would repeal health reform's provisions that improve Medicare benefits, including closure of the Medicare prescription drug donut hole and coverage of preventive services without cost sharing. These repeals would adversely affect current Medicare beneficiaries as well as those not yet eligible. Health reform has begun to close the donut hole -- the gap in Medicare prescription drug coverage that many seniors experienced once their annual drug costs exceeded $2,840. Before health reform, seniors had no additional coverage until their costs hit $6,448. Starting in 2011, seniors in the coverage gap began receiving a discount on brand-name and generic prescription drugs. These discounts and Medicare coverage will gradually increase until 2020, when the entire donut hole is closed. The Ryan budget would reopen the drug donut hole. Health reform also requires both private insurance companies and Medicare to cover preventive care services without any cost sharing. Preventive care includes screenings for chronic illnesses like diabetes and cancer and routine vaccines. The Ryan budget would reinstate cost sharing in Medicare for these preventive benefits. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 3/15/13]

Reopening The Donut Hole Would Force 35,535 Arkansas Seniors To Pay More For Prescription Drugs Next Year. The Republican plan would re-open the "donut hole," forcing seniors to pay the full cost of their prescription drugs if their yearly drug expenses are more than $2,850 for the year. As a result, more than 35,535 Arkansas seniors reaching the prescription drug "donut hole" would pay an average of $941 more in prescription drug costs in 2015 and approximately $11,918 more between now and 2022 than under current law. [Kaiser Family Foundation, 10/10/13; HHS, 9/17/12; HHS, 3/21/14]

* Arkansans Would Pay Up To $11,918 For Prescription Drugs Between 2015 And 2022. " As a result, more than 35,535 Arkansas seniors reaching the prescription drug "donut hole" would pay an average of $941 more in prescription drug costs in 2015 and approximately $11,918 more between now and 2022 than under current law. [Kaiser Family Foundation, 10/10/13; HHS, 9/17/12; HHS, 3/21/14]

2013: Over 35,000 Arkansans Saved Over $26 Million Due To The Closing Of The Medicare Part D Donut Hole, Average Of $737 A Person. According to the Center on Medicare and Medicaid Services, 35,535 Arkansas seniors on Medicare saved over $26 million on their prescription drug costs due to closing the Medicare Part D donut hole. That amounted to an average savings of $737 per beneficiary. [Medicare Report, Center on Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2013]

2012: Over 32,000 Arkansans Saved Over $20 Million Dollars Due To Closing Of The Medicare Part D Donut Hole. According to the Center on Medicare and Medicaid Services, 32,420 Arkansas seniors on Medicare saved over $20 million on their prescription drug costs due to closing the Medicare Part D donut hole. That amounted to an average savings of $622 per beneficiary. [Medicare Report, Center on Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2012]

AUDIO: I worry that Medicare's not going to be there for my sons. And people like Tom Cotton are only going to make it worse.

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