Carmel, CA Presidential /VP Candidates Air Views On Medicare

The Presidential elections are rapidly approaching and with seniors comprising such a large and increasing percentage of the population, you can expect much of the political rhetoric to revolve around how safe the Medicare and Social Security funds are and whether they will remain intact.  The latest has President Barack Obama and Republican VP nominee Paul Ryan trading attacks in the press.  Mitt Romney's running mate recently reiterated that he is in favor of doing a complete overhaul of Medicare and making Medicare optional, just one of many choices seniors would have for medical insurance.  Ryan accused the president of raiding Medicare to pay for his health care reform and said that hospitals and nursing homes may close as a result.  Ryan put his 78 year-old mother in front of an audience and passionately defended Social Security despite the fact that he has proposed massive changes to it.  "She planned her retirement around this promise.  That's a promise we have to keep," Ryan said, referring to Betty Ryan's mother.  "You would think they would avoid talking about Medicare, given the fact that both of them have proposed to voucherize the Medicare system," Obama said, referring to Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney.  "But I guess they figure the best defense is to try to go on offense.  Since I have been in office, I have strengthened Medicare," said the President.  Unfortunately, voters are going to have to try and guess exactly what measures the two candidates will take after the elections, since it's unlikely significant changes will be made to Medicare prior to the elections.  I've been urging all of my senior clients to get out and vote, or fill out an absentee ballot if they are unable to.  There are many hugely important issues impacting seniors which will be impacted by the elections.  We will have to live with them for decades to come.