Rep. Palmer Stands for Healthcare Choice for Seniors

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 -- Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Alabama, issued the following news release:

Congressman Gary Palmer (R-AL) has reintroduced the Retirement Freedom Act, which would allow senior citizens to opt out of Medicare without losing their Social Security benefits. Companion legislation in the Senate was introduced by Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX). If passed, the bill would allow seniors to opt out of Medicare and keep their private insurance plans, without forfeiting their Social Security benefits.

"I want our senior citizens to be empowered to make their own healthcare decisions, and that is what the Retirement Freedom Act does," Palmer said. "People should not be forced to give up their private insurance because their Social Security is being held hostage. Our senior citizens deserve more control over their own medical decisions, and this bill would help give that."

Currently, seniors must forfeit Social Security if they choose to keep their private insurance and not enroll in Medicare Part A. This link between the two programs acts as a mechanism to force Medicare enrollment, which is an overreach by the Social Security Administration and a serious restriction on seniors' freedom of choice in their healthcare. The Retirement Freedom Act seeks to give that freedom back and to be one step towards fixing the entitlement system.