As their first action after taking control of Congress, Republicans are debating H.R. 2, the Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act. I oppose efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act for many reasons. Not least of which is the effect it will have on my constituents, including the 113,000 people on Medicare in the 21st Congressional District of New York.
The health care reform law required Medicare to cover all preventive care -- like cancer screenings and yearly check-ups -- free of cost. Repeal would take away this new benefit, meaning seniors would have to pay more to see a doctor and to get a check-up. Repeal would erase incentives meant to encourage doctors to devote more time and attention to their Medicare patients and would cost seniors an estimated $3,500 over ten years in higher co-pays and premiums.
More disturbingly, the repeal plan is fiscally irresponsible as it accelerates insolvency of the Medicare Trust Fund by twelve years. Under the repeal bill, the Trust Fund will become insolvent in 2017, just six years away. This action breaks a promise with America's seniors to provide health coverage in their old age after a lifetime of working hard, playing by the rules and paying their fare share. Not only that, it is also fiscally reckless.
For seniors enrolled in Medicare Part D's prescription drug benefit, repeal would mean they lose many more benefits. There are over 8,700 constituents in my district (including more than 3,600 in Albany County) who hit the donut hole last year -- the annual gap in prescription drug coverage that requires them to pay the full cost of their prescription drugs. Last year those constituents received a $250 payment when they hit the donut hole to help them pay for their prescriptions. Would the other side of the aisle have them pay back that $250? This year, they are set to start receiving a 50 percent discount on prescription drugs while they are in the donut hole and repeal would wipe out that discount. Repeal would cost seniors in the donut hole an average of $500 this year alone and over $3,000 in 2020. The Affordable Care Act eventually would close the donut hole, so that seniors would never again lose coverage for their prescriptions -- another benefit I will not stand to see repealed. Seniors on Medicare are some of the biggest beneficiaries of the health care reform law and I will not allow their benefits to be taken away before they've even had a chance to take effect.