COTTON WANTS TO END KEY MEDICARE BENEFITS FOR SENIORS TODAY

Cotton has voted to eliminate free cancer screenings, flu shots and wellness visits that seniors enjoy right now

This week, Pryor for Senate will highlight how Cotton’s campaign promise of “zero changes” for current seniors and those nearing retirement is blatantly false

LITTLE ROCK — In Congress, Rep. Tom Cotton has taken every opportunity to undermine Medicare’s guaranteed benefits for seniors, repeatedly voting to begin turning the program over to insurance companies, raise the age of eligibility to 70 and cut benefits for seniors today.

On the campaign trail, Cotton has come under fire for his uniquely irresponsible votes against Arkansas seniors, which is why he has begun repeating the false claim that he supports “zero changes” for today’s seniors and those nearing retirement.

The facts tell a different story, however, as Cotton has supported and voted for plans that would cut benefits now for seniors on Medicare and Social Security.

Among the most immediate examples are Cotton’s votes to end free cancer screenings, flu shots, and wellness visits for seniors on Medicare.

“Congressman Cotton apparently thinks he knows better than Arkansans, and his reckless votes to immediately end Medicare benefits and increase out-of-pocket costs would have real consequences for Arkansas seniors,” said Pryor for Senate spokesman Erik Dorey. “Sure, it may serve Congressman Cotton’s political ambitions to promise ‘zero changes’ to seniors on Medicare, but his irresponsible votes speak for themselves: if Tom Cotton gets his way, seniors would no longer receive free cancer screenings, flu shots or wellness visits.”

Currently in Arkansas, over 500,000 Medicare enrollees can receive preventive care at no cost to them, but Cotton has voted to immediately deny them free services like cancer screenings, mammograms, flu shots and annual wellness visits.

Through 2012, Arkansas seniors saved a total of $50,287,595 on preventative care, an average savings of $622 per beneficiary. If Cotton were to get his way, these benefits would end immediately and seniors would have to pay more out of pocket for the same care they enjoy today.

BACKGROUND:

COTTON’S PROMISE TO MAKE ZERO CHANGES TO MEDICARE JUST DOES NOT ADD UP

Cotton Favored “Zero Changes” For Current Medicare Recipients And Those Nearing Retirement. According to the WSJ, “In Arkansas, Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor has aired television ads featuring women—sitting at their kitchen table—assailing his Republican opponent, Rep. Tom Cotton, for backing cuts to Medicare…In response, Mr. Cotton’s campaign said the congressman favors ”zero changes” for current Medicare recipients and those nearing retirement, but that long-term changes are necessary to keep the program solvent.” [Wall Street Journal, 3/16/14]

Cotton Said “We Make No Changes For Those Who Are In Or Approaching Retirement For Medicare.” In an interview on Fox News with Neil Cavuto, Cotton said, “Well, we make no changes for those who are in or approaching retirement for Medicare. But, for my generation who are decades away, who are living longer than we ever have in America, then yes we do need to modernize these programs to make sure that they can continue to fulfill the promises we’ve made to all Americans.” [Fox News, 4/7/14; emphasis added]

BUT COTTON ACTUALLY VOTED TO CUT MEDICARE BENEFITS FOR SENIORS ON MEDICARE TODAY

Cotton Voted To Eliminate Free Preventative Services, Such As Cancer Screenings, For Seniors On Medicare Today. Cotton voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. According to PolitiFact, The Affordable Care Act included “preventive care with no out-of-pocket costs. Everyone on Medicare is now eligible for free preventive care as a result of President Barack Obama’s health care law. Seniors’ annual wellness visits would be covered, as well as flu shots and a number of screenings for cervical cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, HIV, and cholesterol (complete list is here). These services would not require co-pays.” [CQ; Vote #86, 3/20/13; Vote 88, 3/20/13; PolitiFact, 8/18/12]

Cotton Voted To Eliminate Free Yearly Wellness Visit For Seniors On Medicare.Cotton voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. According to the AARP, “Until Jan. 1 [2011], Medicare did not cover any routine exams except for the ‘Welcome to Medicare’ exam for new beneficiaries. The Affordable Care Act created the once-a-year wellness visit as a new benefit, paying doctors to perform it and making it free to patients. By the end of June, Medicare had paid for nearly 1 million such visits, according to CMS.” [CQ; Vote #86, 3/20/13; Vote 88, 3/20/13; AARP, 7/22/11]

Arkansas Seniors Saved Over $50 Million On Preventative Services, Such As Cancer Screenings And Flu Shots. According to the Center on Medicare and Medicaid Services, Arkansas Seniors saved $50,287,595 on free preventative services under the Affordable Care Act. [Medicare Report, Center on Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2012]

Cotton Was The Only Member Of The Arkansas Delegation To Vote For Republican Study Committee Budget That Would Turn Medicare Into A Voucher System For People Age 59 And Raise The Medicare Eligibility Age To 70. In 2013, Cotton was the only member of the Arkansas delegation to vote in favor of the Republican Study Committee Budget. According to the Southwest Times Record, the Republican Study Committee budget “would turn Medicare into a voucher system, raise the full retirement age to 70 and provide smaller cost-of-living adjustments by using a different method to calculate inflation. The RSC budget, which was offered as an amendment to a House budget resolution, was rejected in March.” The budget was rejected by a vote of 104-132. [CQ; H Con Res 25, Vote #86, 3/20/13; Southwest Times Record, 11/13/13]