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Dear Hunter,

Much has been said over the past few weeks about the budget proposal in the House of Representatives, offered by Rep. Paul Ryan, and backed by Republican members, but not much has been said about how it will affect our veterans. As you know, the Paul Ryan plan will end Medicare, making it a voucher program, leaving seniors to buy their own insurance in the private system. It will therefore end one of the most popular and successful initiatives ever offered.

This plan will also punish veterans – harshly – and it's important that you spread the word on how it will do so.

*CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT THE RYAN/REPUBLICAN PLAN'S EFFECT ON VETERANS AND SPREAD THE WORD* [ http://votevets.org/pages/?id=0047 ]

Here are the facts:

* Millions of veterans over 65 rely on Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance for their health care. In fact, according to the last survey of veterans by the Department of Veterans' affairs, 39.3 percent of veterans use Medicare, compared with 14 percent of the general population.

* Many of these veterans are relying on Medicare as their sole health care provider. The Ryan plan would have an immediate impact on these veterans, forcing those falling into the "donut hole" with high-cost prescription drug costs to pay more for their medications in addition to paying more for preventative health services.

* Veterans who rely on Medicaid would not escape cuts either. The Republican plan could slash $1.4 trillion in health benefits over the next ten years. Forty-four states are already facing significant budget shortfall in Fiscal Year 2012, and the cuts could force the state to either ration health care benefits for veterans across the country, restrict eligibility rules and leave thousands uninsured, including veterans, or raise taxes to cover the shortfall.

* Finally, many veterans rely on private insurance, mostly through their employer. Because Republicans want to repeal the recent health insurance law, these veterans will no longer have guaranteed access to health insurance regardless of pre-existing conditions and may see annual or lifetime caps on coverage under the Republican budget.


In short, Republicans and Paul Ryan will strip away care for our veterans, in the name of budget cutting. These proposals are draconian, cruel, and unfair to those men and women who put their lives on the line for this country. But, unless we spread the word about how severely the Ryan/Republican plan will hurt veterans, most Americans won't ever know.
*

SO, CLICK HERE TO START SPREADING THE TRUTH ABOUT THE RYAN/REPUBLICAN PLAN* [ http://votevets.org/pages/?id=0047 ]

Thanks for your support.

Sincerely,
Ashwin Madia
Iraq War Veteran
Interim Chairman, VoteVets.org


Paid for by VoteVets Action Fund _________________________________________


VoteVets.org

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