Obama's Affordable Care Act cuts payments to Medicare providers by $716 billion in total over the next ten years and redirects the money to cover seniors' prescription drugs, public health, and to pay for coverage for the currently uninsured. Ryan's plan cuts payments to Medicare providers by $716 billion in total over the next ten years, uses the savings to fund tax cuts for rich, and then cuts payments to Medicare beneficiaries by $3 trillion in years 11 through 20.
Romney's plan used to bankrupt the Medicare Trust Fund in 2016, and repeal ObamaCare to eliminate the $716 billion cut to Medicare providers and impose a cut to benefits for Medicare beneficiaries.
But now Romney's Medicare plan is "the same, if not identical--probably close to identical" as Ryan's.
If you are confused, join the club. If you don't like any provision in Romney's Medicare plan, wait an hour: it will change.
Luke Johnson:
Mitt Romney: Paul Ryan Medicare Plan And Mine Are The Same, 'If Not Identical': Presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney said Wednesday his Medicare plan was "close to identical" to that of his vice-presidential choice, Rep. Paul Ryan…. "Actually, Paul Ryan and my plan for Medicare, I think, is the same, if not identical -- it's probably close to identical," he told Green Bay station WBAY. Ryan, as a House member, in 2011 proposed shifting Medicare entirely to a voucher-like system, then tweaked the proposal in 2012 to offer traditional Medicare alongside private plans….
Romney did not answer why he did not object to the $716 billion cut when it was included among the savings in Ryan's proposal. "I think the $716 billion that our seniors have paid for should stay with our seniors' program. It should be restored to the Medicare trust fund… to make its solvency last longer," he said.
That's precisely the opposite of what would happen, according to an analysis by the Associated Press. Repealing Obama's health care law would cause the Medicare trust fund to become insolvent eight years earlier, in 2016, rather than in 2024 if it were to stay in place….
Romney on Monday described his plan as "very similar" to Ryan's. Top surrogate and former New Hampshire Gov. John Sununu disputed that on Tuesday, calling them "very different."… But in Wednesday's interview, Romney made it clear that there was no daylight between the two plans…
