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TPM: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2...es.php?ref=fpb

House Republicans, facing tough questions in their districts for voting to phase out Medicare and replace it with a subsidized private insurance system, are fond of pointing out that the plan they support wouldn't touch benefits for existing beneficiaries, or for people who will reach eligibility within 10 years. There are a number of problems with that plan, but top Democrats are finally pointing out the biggest one: it's simply not true.

Though many Republicans are getting jittery about their budget's Medicare plan, they're still perfectly proud of the fact that it also repeals the new health care law. But that law includes plenty of goodies for current seniors, all of which would be zapped immediately if Republicans get their way.

"The Affordable Care Act this year added an annual wellness benefit to the guaranteed benefit that seniors have," said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius at a Capitol press conference Thursday.

A smaller category of Medicare beneficiary would also see additional benefit cuts right away. So-called "dual-eligibles" -- people who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid -- would lose the new Medicare benefits under the health care law and see their Medicaid benefits slashed instantly. The House GOP budget cuts and caps Medicaid spending and turns it into a block grant program to be administered differently in each state.

"Medicaid cuts would start right away, so those seniors would be the first to be impacted," Sebelius added. "The voucher plan doesn't hit for 10 years, but not only do the new benefits for every senior go away, but the dually-qualified seniors -- the poorest, oldest, sickest seniors, who are often in nursing homes, would have their benefits cut immediately."

Republicans have been using the 10-year buffer to protect themselves from attacks from current seniors ever since they unveiled the plan earlier this year. Democrats have been slow to point out that the argument is false.

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Seniors will love this one, too (not). They Ryan Plan also repeals legislation closing the "donut hole" for prescription drugs under Pres. Obama's Affordable Care Act (ACA). Since the Ryan Plan repeals the ACA, the donut hole would slide open again immediately.

Nancy Pelosi took the Democratic message on Medicare to Paul Ryan's home turf yesterday. When asked by a reporter if the Dems had an alternative plan to Ryan's, she replied, "We have a plan. It's called Medicare. The fight of this Congress and beyond will be to preserve Medicare and not have it abolished. The three most important issues we should be talking about are Medicare, Medicare, and Medicare.”