Dold, Schneider Spar on Medicare

When the campaign of attacked Republican opponent , Dold’s campaign answered with some truth serum of its own Saturday.

The Schneider campaign set up a “Dold Medicare Vouchers” booth in Highland Park’s Port Clinton Square Thursday to inform voters the North Shore Congressman wants to replace the current Medicare program with a voucher system senior citizens can use to offset the cost of private health insurance.

“The Republican plan is to take away the Medicare guarantee and turn it into a voucher system,” Schneider campaign manager Reed Adamson said. “People are looking for a secure retirement. They plan to take away the guarantee and turn it into a voucher program.”

Though Dold has voted twice for a House Republican Budget that contains proposed changes to Medicare for people under 55, his campaign spokesperson John McGovern disputes the idea takes away the Medicare guaranty.

Dold supports changes to Medicare proposed by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI). The fundamentals of that plan are contained in the House Republican Budget authored by Ryan and passed by the lower chamber in April with Dold’s vote, according to McGovern.

“Congressman Dold does not support any changes in Medicare for those above 55 years old or a voucher system,” McGovern said. “Congressman Dold supports the Wyden-Ryan reforms which allow individuals under 55 the option of Medicare as it exists today.”

McGovern explained the Wyden-Ryan plan gives people under 55 options for medical coverage when they reach retirement age.

“Consider what Sen. Wyden has said about his own plan,” McGovern said citing a March 19 Huffington Post story. “‘Wyden-Ryan doesn't eliminate the traditional Medicare plan; instead it guarantees that seniors who want to enroll in Medicare's traditional fee for service plan will always have that option.’”

McGovern also explained the Wyden-Ryan plan is not a voucher system for those who choose not to use traditional Medicare. It contains a provision allowing seniors to "receive a government subsidy that would help pay for private insurance," according to a March 19 article in The Hill.

“‘Unlike a voucher program that would give seniors a fixed amount of money to purchase health plans, Wyden-Ryan would adjust premium support payments each year to reflect the actual cost of health insurance premiums’” McGovern said quoting Wyden.