Five Senate Democrat leaders have jointly signed a letter to Vice President Joe Biden, petitioning him to leave a proposed Republican Medicare plan off the table amid discussions on how to tackle the country's $14.3 trillion deficit, according to a Baltimore Sun news report.
The senators include Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.). In their letter, the senators take issue with a proposed Medicare plan penned by House Republican Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan. Under the proposed plan, seniors would be provided federal subsidies to purchase private health plans and would also be required to pay higher out-of-pocket fees.
The proposal has passed through the House but is unexpected to get approval from the Democratic-led Senate.
"It would be devastating for America's seniors, who would see their out-of-pocket costs for healthcare double and the benefits they currently enjoy jeopardized," the letter states.
While Democrats and the administration have overwhelmingly opposed the proposed plan, Democrats will likely have to agree to some cuts to entitlement programs in order to gain Republican approval to extend the country's debt ceiling. Vice President Biden is currently leading a bipartisan group of Congressional leaders toward an agreement on the debt ceiling extension.
Read the Baltimore Sun news report about Chairman Paul Ryan's proposed Medicare plan.
Related Articles on Medicare Reform:
Joe Biden's Plan to Cut Budget by $1 Trillion Could Include Medicare Cuts
Back Home, GOP Lawmakers Face Backlash Against Medicare Plan
Newt Gingrich Backs Away From House Medicare Plan
The senators include Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.). In their letter, the senators take issue with a proposed Medicare plan penned by House Republican Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan. Under the proposed plan, seniors would be provided federal subsidies to purchase private health plans and would also be required to pay higher out-of-pocket fees.
The proposal has passed through the House but is unexpected to get approval from the Democratic-led Senate.
"It would be devastating for America's seniors, who would see their out-of-pocket costs for healthcare double and the benefits they currently enjoy jeopardized," the letter states.
While Democrats and the administration have overwhelmingly opposed the proposed plan, Democrats will likely have to agree to some cuts to entitlement programs in order to gain Republican approval to extend the country's debt ceiling. Vice President Biden is currently leading a bipartisan group of Congressional leaders toward an agreement on the debt ceiling extension.
Read the Baltimore Sun news report about Chairman Paul Ryan's proposed Medicare plan.
Related Articles on Medicare Reform:
Joe Biden's Plan to Cut Budget by $1 Trillion Could Include Medicare Cuts
Back Home, GOP Lawmakers Face Backlash Against Medicare Plan
Newt Gingrich Backs Away From House Medicare Plan