[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 4, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H2102]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             OPPOSING THE ACA'S CUTS TO MEDICARE ADVANTAGE

  (Mr. BILIRAKIS asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of health care 
choices for our seniors.
  Nearly 30 percent of all seniors, 15 million Americans, choose 
Medicare Advantage. Individuals have testified before the Energy and 
Commerce Committee that Medicare Advantage provides better results than 
traditional Medicare by embracing free-market principles.
  Medicare Advantage focuses on preventive care. Before ObamaCare, 
competition in Medicare Advantage kept costs for beneficiaries low and 
choices for plans abundant. With ObamaCare, choices will be reduced and 
costs for seniors, unfortunately, will increase.
  ObamaCare cuts Medicare by $700 billion. Medicare Advantage has been 
successful for its enrollees. These cuts will reduce the access seniors 
have to Medicare Advantage. This is unacceptable as far as I am 
concerned.
  Medicare Advantage should be touted. Instead, seniors are facing an 
on-average 13 percent rate cut in 2014, compared to 2013. We should not 
be penalizing seniors and reducing their access to health care to pay 
for others.
  Medicare Advantage is a successful program, and Congress should 
protect it from being gutted by the Obama administration and the 
Affordable Care Act.

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