PolitiFact.com
Statements about Medicare
Kurt Schrader

Kurt Schrader

True

When it comes to federal spending, Schrader’s meaning eclipses his choice of words.

In just a few decades, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, other mandatory spending programs, and paying interest due on the debt will eclipse our entire budget.

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

Mostly False

Supporting a plan that some consider a move toward privatization is not a call for privatization.

Rob Cornilles supports privatizing Medicare.

Bob Corker

Bob Corker

True

That disparity is real

A typical married couple "will contribute $119,000" into Medicare but will "receive $357,000 in Medicare benefits over their lifetimes."

AFSCME

AFSCME

Mostly True

Not a great chapter in the Bain story

"While Romney was a director of the Damon Corporation, the company was defrauding Medicare of millions."

Rob Cornilles

Rob Cornilles

Half-True

Maybe it will, maybe it won't, one thing's for sure, this is a scare tactic

Suzanne Bonamici supports a plan that will cut choice for Medicare Advantage seniors.

Rob Cornilles

Rob Cornilles

Mostly False

We find no evidence of a request for a correction

Rob Cornilles has disputed for two years a news story that said he said he would cut Social Security and Medicare programs before trimming the U.S. defense budget.

Suzanne Bonamici

Suzanne Bonamici

True

Democrats aren't angels either

"My opponent on day one of this campaign attacked me on Medicare and Medicare Advantage and that claim was found to be False."

Rick Santorum

Rick Santorum

Mostly False

Substantial differences between plans

Paul Ryan’s Medicare plan provides "pretty much" the same coverage that members of Congress receive.

Tom Price

Tom Price

Half-True

Upon examination, Price claim needs more detail

Congress gave an unelected board "the power to deny care to seniors."

Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney

False

Other presidents cut benefits - and Obama hasn't

"Only one president has ever cut Medicare for seniors in this country . . . Barack Obama."

National Taxpayers Union

National Taxpayers Union

False

Disconnected dots

President Obama plans to "impose a tax of at least 23 percent on the Medicare prescription drug benefit for low-income beneficiaries."

Rob Cornilles

Rob Cornilles

False

It's false, no matter how many times you say it

Says Suzanne Bonamici "supports the $500 billion cut to Medicare passed last year."

Rob Portman

Rob Portman

True

Ratio for one-income couples is even more skewed

"A couple retiring today will pay about $119,000 in lifetime Medicare taxes and receive about $357,000 in lifetime Medicare benefits. ... about 3 bucks in benefits for every dollar in taxes."

Allen West

Allen West

Mostly False

Repetition doesn't make claims truer

"In the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, it was the Democrats who cut $500 billion from Medicare. And they also put in place the Independent Payment Advisory Board, 15 unelected bureaucrats, which will be making decisions about health care for our seniors and for all Americans."

Chain e-mail

Chain e-mail

Pants on Fire!

Making up numbers

Medicare monthly premiums will go up to $104.20 in 2012 and $247.00 in 2014 due to "provisions incorporated in the Obamacare legislation, purposely delayed so as not to 'confuse' the 2012 re-election campaigns."

Herman Cain

Herman Cain

Half-True

Right on Social Security, wrong on Medicare

"Current projections indicate that Medicare will go bankrupt by 2017, while Social Security will bottom out by 2037."

Johnny Isakson

Johnny Isakson

False

They actually rose

The premiums on Medicare’s prescription drug program have fallen almost every year since it began.

Michele Bachmann

Michele Bachmann

Mostly False

Law-making equated with thievery

"We know that President Obama stole over $500 billion out of Medicare to switch it over to Obamacare."

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

Mostly False

Ryan budget blueprint didn't end Medicare

"Congressman Bill Young voted to cut taxes for millionaires and end your Medicare." 

Joe Biden

Joe Biden

False

Nope. That's still wrong

Says U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget proposal "eliminates Medicare" in 10 years.

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