Sen. Barrasso Issues Floor Remarks on Health Care
"It is rare to find the
"All three papers say that the
"And remember, it's not just
"
"
"The CBO projects in its report on a single-payer plan that government spending on health care would increase substantially. They go on to say to cover the massive cost of government-run care, the Journal says income taxes would have to at least double. Income taxes, American families, at least double.
"Added to the expense is the shock of banning virtually all private insurance in this country.
"There are 180 million working Americans who receive their health insurance through work. Outlawing private health plans would cause a serious disruption, forcing 180 million Americans, working families, from their employer-sponsored health insurance coverage.
"The
"The Journal says that any savings would have to come from where the money is, which is cutting payments to doctors and restricting care. Restricting care. That restricts treatment as well as new technologies.
"Lower reimbursement rates could drive many doctors from practice, shutter many small hospitals, and in my rural communities, in rural states, we are talking about problems in our rural communities all across America. The result would be longer wait times, lower quality of care.
"To quote the Post, 'no matter what
"And mark my words, Medicare for All would soon become Medicare for none.
"
"That's what one-size-fits-all health care looks like for Americans, for people all across the country.
"So this single-payer plan means major tax hikes to cover massive costs. It means much longer lines for lower quality care. And it means the elimination of private health insurance for Americans.
"It also means the end of the Medicare program that seniors rely upon and so many depend on, on a daily basis.
"That's where I want to focus some of my remarks today, our seniors' health care needs and why it's so important to protect their Medicare benefits that they have paid into over their entire working lives.
"For seniors today, and there are 60 million of them who rely on the Medicare program, Medicare is nothing less than a medical lifeline.
"And yet, if
"These older Americans have worked hard their entire lives, put in the effort, had each month or each week from their paycheck money deducted that went into paying for Medicare. They have paid into this Medicare system for decades.
"The average for a couple in America has paid in about
"For more than 50 years Medicare has helped countless seniors live healthier, more productive lives. Does Medicare face challenges? Absolutely, there's no question about that.
"But still, ending Medicare as we know it would not solve our health care problems. It simply makes them much worse and certainly for the 60 million Americans currently on Medicare.
"I've seen Medicare's value as a doctor, practicing medicine in
"Now as a senator, I talk with seniors back home in
"The week before last I was at two different health fairs in
"People in
"That's my concern with this one-size-fits-all approach that the
"And in
"You know, almost 90 percent of Medicare patients say they like the program, works well for them. Nearly 90 percent approval.
"Members of the
"And now what's being proposed by the
"We need to do more to lower the cost of care for all Americans, but we need to protect Medicare and put all of these new people on the Medicare program is going to make it that much harder for our seniors who are currently on Medicare.
"Medicare partners with private health insurance to provide seniors to provide better care, it's a program called Medicare advantage.
"There are 22 million Americans, seniors who are on this Medicare Advantage program. Nobody forces them to sign up. They choose it simply because as the name implies, there are advantages to participating in Medicare Advantage in terms of preventive care, in terms of coordinated care.
"These are plans where for our seniors, they look at that and say, you know, that's right for me. It provides value for my money. I enjoy what I get.
"So it's no surprise that since 2010, things came along and Obamacare was passed, the number of seniors in Medicare Advantage has more than doubled because it's a good program for them.
"Nevertheless, all 22 million people currently on Medicare Advantage would lose Medicare Advantage if the
"But that's what the
"In January, I joined a bipartisan group of senators in sending a letter to the
"That's what they're running for president on and promoting today.
"Medicare works with private insurers to make seniors' prescription drugs more affordable as well. This program is called Medicare Part
"So how do we know it must be a good program? Because that many people see value in the l program and they have signed up for it.
"Can we improve the prescription drug program? Absolutely. We're working right now to lower prescription drug costs.
"We've already eliminated the gag order, where pharmacists can't talk to patients. We've done the right thing there.
"So why are the far-left
"Well, free health care may make for a catchy campaign slogan, it is unfair to deceive the American people, especially our seniors.
"To quote the editor of the
"So here we have it, the
"Let's be clear, all Americans will pay a high price for
"And I actually think seniors May suffer the most. But it is clear to me, that with a one-size-fits-all health care plan, people will pay more to wait longer for worse care."
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