LETTER: Chelmsford Seniors Should Be Concerned About Brown

Dear Editor,

According to the 2010 Census, 5,467 people age 65 and older live in Chelmsford, and every one of them should be deeply concerned about Republican Scott Brown’s health care policy.  The centerpiece of Brown’s health care policy is working to repeal the Affordable Care Act, the federal health care reform law known as ObamaCare.

National health care advocacy organization Community Catalyst Action Fund released a new analysis finding that, if the Affordable Care Act (“ObamaCare”) is repealed, senior citizens in Chelmsford and across Massachusetts will be saddled with higher costs and fewer benefits.

ObamaCare, as it is known, lowers seniors’ Medicare premiums and out-of-pocket costs by an estimated $500 per year.  This means that, if Republican Scott Brown gets his way and repeals ObamaCare, seniors’ Medicare costs will go up about $5,000 over the next decade.

ObamaCare also fills in the so-called “donut hole” in prescription drug coverage for seniors.  Between January and August of this year, 31,000 Massachusetts residents hit the “donut hole.”  ObamaCare saved those Medicare beneficiaries an average of over $600 per person.  This means that, if Republican Scott Brown gets his way and repeals ObamaCare, seniors’ prescription drug costs will go up dramatically.

Also, during the first eight months of 2012, over 500,000 Medicare beneficiaries across Massachusetts took advantage of no-cost preventive services thanks to ObamaCare.  If Republican Scott Brown gets his way and repeals ObamaCare, seniors will lose these no-cost preventive services.

Policy decisions made in Washington D.C. have a real and direct impact on the residents of Chelmsford.  The health care policy that Republican Scott Brown is advocating would have a decidedly harmful impact on Chelmsford's seniors.

Sincerely,

Matthew Helman

Communications Director, Progress Mass