Walker To Ryan: Raise Tax Credits For Seniors In Health Care Bill

Gov. Scott Walker says he has talked to U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan about making the Republican health care overhaul better for older adults.

A Congressional Budget Office analysis found health care premiums for all older people could be five times larger than for younger people under Ryan’s plan. It also found that while costs would increase for seniors, tax credits for seniors living in poverty would go down.

Walker said he’s talked with Ryan about increasing the Republican health care bill’s tax credits compared to where they were when the plan was introduced.

“Particularly for older adults,” Walker said. “Not necessarily even seniors, but those in their 50s and 60s with higher costs. Those would all be positive changes they could make, and I anticipate they will.”

Walker also said he wants to make sure the eventual health care bill protects Wisconsin’s funding for elderly, blind and disabled residents.