WASHINGTON (AP) – Congressional Democrats are warning that Speaker Paul Ryan and President-elect Donald Trump are gunning for Medicare – and they are rubbing their hands in glee at the prospect of an epic political battle over the government’s flagship health program that covers 57 million Americans.
It turns out that Republicans, especially in the Senate, are not spoiling for a fight.
“We are not inclined to lead with our chin,” said No. 2 Senate Republican John Cornyn of Texas. “And right now, we’ve got a lot on our plate.”
Ryan, R-Wis., is the most powerful advocate in Washington for a premium-support approach that would, over time, remake Medicare into a voucher-like program that could force some seniors entering the program to buy health insurance on the open market instead of getting coverage through the traditional open-ended process. Critics say such coverage would take away a Medicare guarantee and give seniors subsidies whose value won’t keep up with inflation.
Medicare covers 48 million seniors and nine million disabled people.