COTTON’S “ZERO CHANGES” PLAN FOR MEDICARE: IMMEDIATELY CUT PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS

Cotton voted to reopen the Medicare “donut-hole” for 32,000 Arkansans, increasing out-of-pocket costs for seniors today

LITTLE ROCK – Feeling the heat for his irresponsible votes against Medicare, Rep. Tom Cotton has been out on the campaign trail repeatedly saying he doesn’t support any changes to Medicare for seniors and those nearing retirement. Cotton’s votes in Congress, however, directly contradict that promise. Cotton’s record on Medicare is very clear: he voted to end the guarantee of free flu shots, cancer screenings and wellness visits — and he wants to do away with key benefits that seniors today depend on, like prescription drug coverage.

Cotton’s votes to re-open Medicare’s “donut hole” for prescription drugs — the gap between primary and catastrophic coverage where seniors were forced to pay out of pocket — would mean higher costs on life saving medication for more than 32,000Arkansas seniors. Because Congress in 2010 enacted legislation that begins to close the donut hole, Arkansas seniors have saved an average of $622.

“Many Arkansas seniors on Medicare struggle each month to make ends meet, and Congressman Cotton clearly is not listening,” said Pryor for Senate spokesman Erik Dorey. “Congressman Cotton’s promises to seniors just don’t hold water, and folks here understand that his reckless votes would mean higher out-of-pocket costs for their life saving medications.”

BACKGROUND:

COTTON CLAIMED HE PROPOSED “ZERO CHANGES” TO MEDICARE FOR CURRENT RETIREES OR THOSE NEARING RETIREMENT

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]

Cotton Said He Proposed “Zero Changes To Medicare For Current Retirees Or People Who Are Approaching Retirement.” In a tele-town hall, Cotton said, “So, what do we propose to do? First, zero changes to Medicare for current retirees or people who are approaching retirement. They’ve worked for a lifetime, they’ve paid into the system, they’ve built up a set of expectations on what they’ll receive, we have to honor those promises.” [Tracking audio, Town Hall, 4/21/14]

Cotton Voted For GOP Budgets That Would Raise The Retirement Age To 70 But Clarified He Would Make “No Changes For Those Who Are in Or Approaching Retirement…But For My Generation…Then Yes, We Do Need To Modernize These Programs.” “Because Cotton not only voted for the Ryan budget, but also supported the more conservative Republican Study Committee budget – which eventually lifts the retirement age to 70 – Democrats see the congressman as uniquely vulnerable. Cotton has called the attack hypocritical, retreating to the familiar GOP refrain that Pryor himself raided Medicare by voting for Obamacare. The reforms Cotton supports, he stresses, won’t affect grandma. “We make no changes for those who are in or approaching retirement and eligible for Medicare. But for my generation, for people who are decades away, who are living longer than we ever have in America, then yes, we do need to modernize these programs,” Cotton told Fox News last week.” [US News & World Report, 4/18/14]

Cotton Said Ryan Budget Included “No Change” For Current Retirees And Those Nearing Retirement. In a statement on the passage of FY15 Ryan budget, “Finally, it preserves Medicare for future generations, while ensuring current retirees and those nearing retirement see no change. President Obama and his liberal allies can’t keep spending money we don’t have on bloated welfare programs and failed economic policies. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to stop sitting idly by and waiting for our country to descend into financial ruin.” [Press Release, Office of Rep. Cotton, 4/10/14]

Cotton’s Website Claims He “Supported NO Changes To Medicare Or Social Security For Those Currently Receiving Benefits Or For Those Nearing Retirement.” According to Cotton’s campaign website, “Tom Cotton supports NO changes to Medicare or Social Security for those currently receiving benefits or for those nearing retirement.” [Cotton Website, accessed 4/9/14]

BUT COTTON VOTED TO INCREASE SENIOR’S OUT OF POCKET COSTS FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS BY RE-OPENING MEDICARE PART D DONUT HOLE

Cotton Voted To Re-Open The Prescription Drug Donut Hole, Which Would Increase Prescription Costs For Seniors. Cotton voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. According to PolitiFact, The Affordable Care Act included closing the prescription drug doughnut hole. “The law gradually closes the so-called ‘doughnut hole’ for seniors on the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program over 10 years. Before the law, seniors whose annual drug costs exceeded $2,830 shouldered the entire payment without government assistance until they hit an out of pocket limit of $4,550. Once ‘catastrophic coverage’ is triggered, the government paid 95 percent of costs. The health care law gives beneficiaries who reach the doughnut hole a $250 tax-free rebate. Federal subsidies will kick in, gradually reducing the patient’s share of the payment from 100 percent to 25 percent by 2020. Plus, seniors in the doughnut hole receive a 50 percent discount on covered brand-name drugs.” [CQ; Vote #86, 3/20/13; Vote 88, 3/20/13; PolitiFact, 8/18/12]

GOP Budget Repeals Provision That Closed Donut Hole in Medicare Prescription Drug Program. According to the Bipartisan Policy Center, “Among other elements, the House GOP budget would repeal: The provisions that closed the “doughnut hole” in Medicare Part D.” [Bipartisan Policy Center, 3/12/13]

Ryan Budget Would Increase Prescription Drug Costs For Seniors By Re-opening Prescription Drug Doughnut Hole. “The Ryan budget would repeal health reform’s provisions that improve Medicare benefits, including closure of the Medicare prescription drug donut hole and coverage of preventive services without cost sharing. These repeals would adversely affect current Medicare beneficiaries as well as those not yet eligible. Health reform has begun to close the donut hole — the gap in Medicare prescription drug coverage that many seniors experienced once their annual drug costs exceeded $2,840.  Before health reform, seniors had no additional coverage until their costs hit $6,448.  Starting in 2011, seniors in the coverage gap began receiving a discount on brand-name and generic prescription drugs.  These discounts and Medicare coverage will gradually increase until 2020, when the entire donut hole is closed.  The Ryan budget would reopen the drug donut hole. Health reform also requires both private insurance companies and Medicare to cover preventive care services without any cost sharing.  Preventive care includes screenings for chronic illnesses like diabetes and cancer and routine vaccines.  The Ryan budget would reinstate cost sharing in Medicare for these preventive benefits. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 3/15/13]

2012: Over 32,000 Arkansans Saved Over $20 Million Dollars Due To Closing Of The Medicare Part D Donut Hole. According to the Center on Medicare and Medicaid Services, 32,420 Arkansas seniors on Medicare saved over $20 million on their prescription drug costs due to closing the Medicare Part D donut hole. That amounted to an average savings of $622 per beneficiary. [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]