SILVER SPRING, MD — U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) today told residents of Riderwood Village that we “need to tackle our budget deficit, but in a way that does not harm seniors.” 

The Senator specifically singled out the budget plan proposed by Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI), which has passed the House, as harmful for seniors. The Ryan Budget plan calls for ending the Medicare program as we know it and turning Medicaid into a block grant to states.  Senator Cardin has said the Ryan budget plan would ultimately kill both the Medicare and Medicaid programs, harming more than 776,000 Maryland seniors who depend on Medicare for their health care.

“I will fight to ensure that Medicare remains a guaranteed benefit for seniors and the disabled,” said Senator Cardin, a member of the Health Subcommittee of the Senate Finance Committee. “I remember the days before Medicare existed — when seniors were unable to purchase health coverage at any price.  I will oppose any plan that ends the Medicare program and turns seniors over to the mercy of private insurance companies.”

Senator Cardin has written to the Obama Administration urging it not to make cuts that would harm the Medicare or Medicaid programs.  In addition to the 776,000 Marylanders who depend on Medicare, more than 950,000 Marylanders are in the Medicaid program, 22,000 of whom depend on it for their nursing home care.

 Senator Cardin addressed Riderwood Village as part of the kick off of its Health and Fitness Week.  Riderwood is the nation’s largest continuing care retirement community with nearly 3,000 residents. Its 120-acre campus stretches across Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.

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