Seniors beware! If anti-worker extremists get their way and the budget bill that is being debated in Washington becomes law, it could lead to huge cuts to Medicare.
About $500 billion in cuts.
It’s a substantial number, but what does it mean?
It means nearly 70 million older Americans, low-income adults and people with disabilities would find it harder to access health care. Medicare recipients may find it harder to locate doctors and hospitals or keep their current physicians.
We know the House-passed bill takes a sledgehammer to Medicaid, the food assistance program known as SNAP, and other crucial programs. The cuts to Medicare benefits are hidden. Though they are not specified in the bill, the Medicare cuts would be triggered by the $2.3 trillion in deficits that the legislation would create.
Why? Because of a law that requires automatic cuts to programs like Medicare if Congress passes legislation that blows such a giant hole in the federal deficit.
The cuts to Medicare and Medicaid would reduce access to medical care for millions of Americans. For instance, these cuts would make it harder for struggling community hospitals, especially in rural America, to survive.
These cuts will hurt more than just the people who are on Medicare. Their families will struggle to care for them. Working people who receive health insurance from their employers may face higher premiums and out-of-pocket costs. That’s because doctors and hospitals may try to charge them more to make up the difference if Medicare pays them less.
We must stop this cruel bill from passing the Senate. Text GO to 237263 to get alerts and learn how you can join the fight and Get Organized.