Graham Sponsors Medicare Reform Plan
March 16, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC – March 16, 2012 – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham signedon as a cosponsor of the Congressional Health Care for Seniors Act(CHCSA). The legislation would enroll all seniors into the same healthcare plan as Members of Congress and federal employees, the FederalEmployee Health Benefit program. (FEHB) http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/
“Ourgoal is to save Medicare from bankruptcy and ensure seniors haveaffordable, high-quality health care — a crisis President Obama has onlymade worse during his time in office,” said Graham. “Allowing seniorsaccess to the Federal Employee Health Benefit (FEHB) program, whichMembers of Congress and federal employees use, will give them morechoices and lower their out-of-pocket costs. It’s also good for thetaxpayers because it will save the federal government $1 trillion overthe next decade and reduce the unfunded liability of Medicare by $16trillion.” The legislation was introduced by Senator Rand Paul(R-Kentucky) and Graham joined Senators Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina)and Mike Lee (R-Utah) in unveiling the legislation at a Capitol Hillpress conference today. The Medicare reform legislation builds upon aSocial Security reform bill (S. 804), The Social Security Solvency andSustainability Act, introduced last year by Graham, Paul and Lee.
Graham noted that in 2010, federal employees could choose from among the250 plans participating in FEHB, including 20 nationwide plans. TheOffice of Personnel Management (OPM) enforces reasonable minimumstandards for plans, ensures the health plans are fiscally sound, andenforces rules for consumer protection.
Under FEHB, there are no price controls, standardized benefits, ordetailed guidelines for doctors or hospitals. All individuals within aplan pay the same premium regardless of their health status orpre-existing conditions.
“To get our nation’s fiscal house in order we must address futureentitlement spending,” said Graham. “Our bill gets a handle on Medicarecosts, which continue to escalate, and ensures the program issustainable for future generations.”
