Rep. Connolly: Medicare Worked, and So Will Obamacare

by James Cullum

Northern Virginia Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-11th celebrated the 48th anniversary of Medicare and defended Obamacare (The Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act) today at the Greenspring Retirement Community in Springfield. Connolly, who spoke to more than 50 members of the Greenspring Demoratic Club, said that Medicare is an essential government program that has become stronger under Obamacare.

"Medicare did serve its purpose. It has protected senior citizens," said Connolly. "(Because of Obamacare) for the first time in the history of Medicare Advantage, premiums went down. The cost of the program to the individual participant has gone down. Benefits went up and millions of additional seniors signed up for the program."

Connolly said that he has voted 40 times against Republican bills to repeal Obamacare. 

"There is no government takeover plan," said Connolly. "It is all going to be private insurance and it's going to add 30 million people to the private insurance system. You're welcome, private insurance system."

More than 6.6 million people with Medicare have saved over $7 billion on prescription drugs since Obamacare was passed into law in 2009, according to to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Recipients have about 48 percent of their health care costs covered before having to pay for care out-of-pocket or with private insurance plans.  

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