{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221033324/http://perry.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-perry-legislation-would-increase-health-care-choices", "Rep. Perry Legislation Would Increase Health Care Choices", "2013-12-09", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Scott Perry", "P000605", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 As Congress approaches its self-imposed December 13th deadline to reach an agreement on a federal budget plan, U.S. Representative Scott Perry (PA-4) joined Representative Sam Johnson (R-TX) to introduce common-sense legislation, H.R. 3498, to help reduce federal spending and give seniors more freedom to make their own healthcare decisions.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 H.R. 3498 will allow seniors to voluntarily opt-out of Medicare coverage and empower them to provide for their own healthcare services if they choose.\u00a0 H.R. 3498 could reduce federal spending by an estimated $11 billion over the next decade. Congress must work together to make the tough and reasonable decisions to address America\u2019s $17 trillion debt crisis and Congressman Perry hopes the enactment of H.R. 3498 will help spur other efforts to control our spending and lay the groundwork for a healthy economy.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Today, you can choose not to enroll in Medicare Part B or Part D, but not for Part A - unless you give up your Social Security benefits as well.\u00a0 This legislation ensures your Social Security benefits remain intact. Along with allowing individuals to voluntarily opt-out of Medicare Part A when they become eligible for the benefit, this legislation also makes seniors eligible to invest funds in tax-free Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAmericans should have the right to choose a healthcare plan that fits their needs, rather than be tied to a government-run system that doesn\u2019t meet their unique medical requirements,\u201d said Rep. Perry. \u201cAmerican seniors should have the choice to decide what plan works best for their family.\u00a0 Medicare also desperately needs to be reformed in order to ensure this program is viable for current and future generations.\u00a0 This bill takes off some of the budgetary pressure from Medicare to help ensure its long-term sustainability for all seniors.\u201d\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cAs folks continue to see their healthcare options diminished by ObamaCare, it\u2019s critical to find ways that allow a return to choice and freedom in health care.\u00a0 This common-sense bill does just that, it truly tells seniors, \u2018if you like your current coverage, you can keep it\u2019 without risk of losing other important benefits like Social Security.\u00a0 If folks like Warren Buffett or Ross Perot want to opt-out of Medicare Part A because they don\u2019t want or need a government entitlement paying for their health care, we should\u00a0 let them!\u00a0 Seniors should have the freedom to say \u2018thanks, but no thanks\u2019 if they want to keep their current coverage,\u201d said Rep. Johnson.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Those who want to keep their current Medicare coverage will not be affected.\u00a0 Additionally, H.R. 3498 will allow seniors with an HSA and qualified High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) to continue contributing to their HSA with pre-tax dollars after they turn 65.\u00a0 Under current law, seniors who have an HSA and turn 65 are no longer eligible to contribute pre-tax dollars to their HSA.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll continue to work with anyone, regardless of party affiliation or ideology, to solve these critical issues,\u201d said Rep. Perry. \u201cAmerica\u2019s problems are not going away, and we can\u2019t just wait for another Congress or another generation to deal with them.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140221033324/http://perry.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-perry-legislation-would-increase-health-care-choices"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.10948521271348, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}