Latest Fact-Checks In Medicare

Clear
Ron Kind
Ron Kind
stated on June 30, 2011 a news release
"Before Medicare, only 51 percent of Americans 65 and older had health care coverage and nearly 30 percent lived below the poverty line. Today, thanks to Medicare ... nearly all seniors have coverage and 75 percent fewer struggle in poverty."
Half-True
By Dave Umhoefer • August 25, 2011
We Are Wisconsin
We Are Wisconsin
stated on July 15, 2011 a news release
Says Republican state Sen. Alberta Darling offered "unqualified support" for a plan to end Medicare
Half-True
By Dave Umhoefer • July 29, 2011
Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney
stated on June 13, 2011 a Republican presidential candidate debate in New Hampshire
"Obamacare takes $500 billion out of Medicare and funds Obamacare."
Half-True
By Angie Drobnic Holan • June 16, 2011
Rick Santorum
Rick Santorum
stated on May 5, 2011 a debate in South Carolina
The Medicare drug program "resulted in the program coming in 40 percent under budget. ... And the reason it was, is because the design was right." 
Half-True
By Angie Drobnic Holan • June 15, 2011
Mike Haridopolos
Mike Haridopolos
stated on June 9, 2011 an 'Orlando Sentinel' op-ed
"Obamacare cuts $500 billion in future Medicare funding in order to fund the new constitutionally questionable government mandate, even going so far as to scuttle Medicare's most popular (and successful) part, Medicare Advantage."
Half-True
By Aaron Sharockman • June 10, 2011
Tim Pawlenty
Tim Pawlenty
stated on May 29, 2011 ABC's "This Week"
Medicare "only has about 50 percent of it paid for by either premiums or payroll taxes, and the rest is deficit spending ... or debt spending."
Half-True
June 1, 2011
Barbara Boxer
Barbara Boxer
stated on May 24, 2011 an interview with MSNBC's Chris Matthews
"There's a 1.5 percent to 2 percent overhead in Medicare. The insurance companies have a 20 percent to 30 percent overhead."
Half-True
By Louis Jacobson • May 30, 2011
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
stated on May 25, 2011 an interview on MSNBC
The Democratic health care law "added 12 years of solvency to Medicare."
Half-True
By Angie Drobnic Holan • May 27, 2011
Amy Kremer
Amy Kremer
stated on May 17, 2011 an interview on "The Colbert Report"
"We bring in enough tax revenue to service our debt, pay for Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security, and then still have about $300 (billion) or $400 billion left over."
Half-True
By Louis Jacobson • May 20, 2011
Gerry Connolly
Gerry Connolly
stated on April 15, 2011 a press release.
Rep. Paul Ryan’s Medicare plan "lines the pockets of the private insurance companies," increases costs for seniors and does not reduce the deficit.
Half-True
By Jacob Geiger • April 30, 2011
Tom Perriello
Tom Perriello
stated on October 6, 2010 a TV ad.
"Mr. Hurt would re-open that darn (Medicare) doughnut hole."
Half-True
October 29, 2010
Americans United for Change
Americans United for Change
stated on February 18, 2010 a radio ad
"Congresswoman Bachmann actually said we should be 'weaned' off our Social Security and Medicare. She wants to privatize Social Security and replace Medicare with some kind of voucher system." 
Half-True
By Catharine Richert • February 25, 2010
Joe Biden
Joe Biden
stated on February 14, 2010 an interview on NBC's 'Meet the Press'
Among the money spent on health care in the United States, "46 cents on every dollar spent is through Medicare and Medicaid."
Half-True
By Louis Jacobson • February 16, 2010
John Cornyn
John Cornyn
stated on October 18, 2009 an interview on CBS's Face the Nation
"The first installment of health care reform ... will raise the deficit by $250 billion."
Half-True
October 20, 2009
America's Health Insurance Plans
America's Health Insurance Plans
stated on October 15, 2009 a televison advertisement
Seniors with coverage under Medicare Advantage will give up "more than their share" because of health care reform
Half-True
By Louis Jacobson • October 16, 2009
Ginny Brown-Waite
Ginny Brown-Waite
stated on September 9, 2009 a letter to AARP
AARP is "the largest reseller of insurance in the country" and "has a vested interest in seeing that the market for reselling supplemental insurance expands."
Half-True
By Angie Drobnic Holan • September 29, 2009
Barack Obama
Barack Obama
stated on September 20, 2009 an interview on "This Week with George Stephanopolous."
"Medicare does just as good, if not better, at keeping people healthy" as Medicare Advantage.
Half-True
By Angie Drobnic Holan • September 24, 2009
Tom Coburn
Tom Coburn
stated on August 24, 2009 Fox News Channel's On the Record With Greta Van Susteren
"Medicare has at least $80 billion worth of fraud a year. That's a full 20 percent of every dollar that's spent on Medicare goes to fraud."
Half-True
By Louis Jacobson • August 27, 2009
Barack Obama
Barack Obama
stated on August 11, 2009 a town hall meeting.
"I just want to assure [you] we're not talking about cutting Medicare benefits."
Half-True
By Catharine Richert • August 14, 2009
Donna Brazile
Donna Brazile
stated on August 2, 2009 CNN's State of the Union with John King
Under President George W. Bush, the U.S. "spent $1.3 trillion on tax cuts for the wealthy" and "trillions" each on a war and on Medicare drug benefits.
Half-True
By Louis Jacobson • August 5, 2009
Previous