Though Medicare was first created in 1965, it remains a controversial institution even today.
Medicare is a government program, sometimes referred to as an entitlement program, guaranteeing health insurance access to Americans that are 65 years of age or older. It is not the same as its sister program, Medicaid, which aims to help low-income individuals and families with medical insurance.
Here are four people who have been outspoken against Medicare:
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1. Paul Ryan
Ryan is a Republican representative from Wisconsin. In his “Path to Prosperity” budget, Ryan proposed those on Medicare could choose between coverage from a private provider or from the government through a voucher system.
As Kicker notes, Paul argued, “Competition plus the ability for health care providers to say ‘no’ to unnecessary procedures equals lower costs.”
One
attack ad depicted Ryan throwing grandma off a cliff.
2. George Reisman
Reisman published an article called
“How to Eliminate Social Security and Medicare.” In his post, he argues a step-by-step process to completely rid the country of the programs. His plan includes increasing the age of Medicare eligibility over a period of eight years, eliminating early retirement, and decreasing benefits over time.
“It cannot be that a solution for any presumed inadequacies of the individual lies in removing his responsibility for providing for his future,” Reisman wrote. “The consequences of enacting this absurdity are not only economic destruction through the undermining of saving but also the potential for nothing less than a virtual geriatric holocaust.”
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3. Rick Santorum
Santorum is a Republican presidential candidate who has voiced his support of Ryan’s plan to privatize Medicare. More than that, however, Santorum said he wishes to get rid of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the agency overseeing the program.
“You want the private sector out there competing, driving down costs, improving efficiency,”
Santorum told CNN. “You want to get rid of this — of CMS, where government basically micromanages all healthcare.”
4. Rick Perry
Another Republican presidential candidate, Perry has voiced his opposition to any sort of governmental involvement involved with health insurance. As governor of Texas, Perry also refused to expand Medicaid.
He also called Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid “Ponzi schemes.”
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