I live in the PA06 district and unfortunately I am represented by Jim Gerlach. He's been around for a while, never ever goes against the republicans but was not exactly the tea bagger type. But they've all become tea baggers now. Under his franking privileges, he sent me a letter regarding his and their big plans for medicare. God help us.
As we know, the republics think we are really stupid (they keep getting elected so there might be something to it). The letter starts out nicely in that he expresses concern for us having affordable quality healthcare in retirement. Then the hair on fire starts with 10,000 baby boomer retiring everyday and one in three primary care doctors are limiting the number of Medicare patients they take, OMG. So concerned for us are the republics that they want to "improve and strengthen" (underlined and in bold) for the current and future retirees. Steps have been taken! I am sure they have.
Gerlach lets me know that earlier this year the kind republics have passed a plan that keeps Medicare for those who have already reached the magical age of 65. I assume that they don't want to piss off the old folks because they vote a lot. Pennsylvania has the second highest number of elderly behind Florida. That's because the elderly in Pennsylvania can't afford to move to Florida.
But the republics propose that starting in 2022, so no one will remember who passed this crap, individuals would be able to CHOOSE from a list of "guaranteed" options that "best suit their needs." See, one would be able to "select" where the Medicare "benefit check" would go to "help" cover the cost of the plan. Gerlach calls this personalized health care coverage. I call it a pittance voucher for private insurance. But call it what you want.
Of course, the republics plan to root out billions of dollars of "waste, fraud and abuse." Billions and billions. That is probably how they plan to pay for this, through a nonexistent source.
Of course, Gerlach reminds me that President Obama and his allies in Congress "jammed" the healthcare bill through Congress two years ago. If by jammed he means over a year of negotiations and hearings, then it was jammed I guess. The majority of Congress voted to pass the bill but somehow that is not good. By supporting the the Affordable Care Act, Democrats are ending Medicare as we know it according to Gerlach. I didn't know that!
The ACA also created a board of 15, count 'em, 15 bureaucrats, the IPAB, and it has the power to "deny care to seniors" (again with the bold and underlined). Unlike private insurance? Again, OMG!
So Gerlach recaps the whole mess for me. The Democrats have ended Medicare as we know it but the republics have a plan to make a "secure and stronger" (lots of bold and underlining in this letter) health care system. Gee, there is no mention of Medicare in that sentence. Hhhhmmm. Gerlach wants me to make the decisions with my doctor and not somebody in Washington. But I assume he doesn't mean anything having to do with lady parts.
So I called Gerlach's local office to let him know what I thought of this letter. I suggest that everyone should do the same with their republic representative.