Rep. Johnson calls on Obama to refrain from cutting Medicare Advantage

WASHINGTON, March 15 (UPI) -- Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Ohio, Saturday said President Obama will create "hundreds of thousands of broken promises" if he allows cuts to Medicare Advantage.

Johnson, during the weekly GOP media address, said cuts to the private health insurance alternative for seniors eligible for Medicare would result in the government coming between patients and their doctors.

"Because of Obamacare, many seniors enrolled in the popular Medicare Advantage program are paying higher premiums and out-of-pocket costs," Johnson said. "Many are losing access to their physicians. And many more will, unless the president takes action."

Earlier this week, a group of 200 House members sent a letter to the president, urging him to keep the rates flat because the cuts are "inconsistent with our healthcare policy goals" of improving care for seniors. Fifty Democrats signed the letter.

"More than 794,000 seniors in Ohio rely on Medicare Advantage," Johnson said. "That's hundreds of thousands of broken promises in waiting in just one state."

"Older Americans deserve better. They deserve the benefits they were promised," he said. "If the president won't help us repeal this law in its entirety, he ought to step up here, do the right thing, and protect our seniors."