As a senior citizen I am concerned that Mitt Romney has pledged to repeal Obamacare, saying he would “kill it dead.” That would hurt millions of middle-class families, women, seniors and young Americans — and he’s pledged to start on “Day One” if he’s president.

Under the Romney-Ryan plan, current seniors would be affected. The repeal of Obamacare would raise Medicare premiums for all seniors, raise prescription drug costs and force seniors to pay out of pocket for cancer screenings and other preventive services. Their plan is not like Medicare Advantage. Romney and Ryan would radically change Medicare by taking away guaranteed benefits and instead giving seniors a voucher that wouldn’t keep up with health costs or ensure they can get the same health care they have today.

Romney and his running mate, Paul Ryan, have said that Obama cut Medicare by $700 billion. This is false. Checking the facts, I found that President Obama is saving us $700 billion and that is extending the life of Medicare through 2024 and this came from cutting unnecessary subsidies to insurance companies, waste and fraud — which is why Ryan put it in his budget, too. Under President Obama, fraud prosecutions are up 75 percent and we’ve recovered more in health care fraud than ever before.

President Obama is strengthening Medicare and helping seniors save money, which is why the AARP supports Obamacare. It extends the life of Medicare by eight years without cutting benefits, and it’s helping millions of seniors save through lower premiums, free preventive care and less expensive prescription drugs. Because of Obamacare senior citizens in St. Mary’s County and across the state on Medicare got discounts on their prescription drugs effectively working toward closing the “doughnut hole,” each saving an average of more than $600 last year. Prior to Obamacare seniors had to pay out of pocket for coverage not allowed in Medicare.

Citizens who can’t afford insurance will either be able to get it through Medicaid or get tax credits that make coverage affordable. Under Obamacare, a typical middle-class family could pay up to 60 percent less for the same coverage they have today.

Those on Medicare or eligible for it need to know that Medicare will stay solvent through 2024, eight years longer than without Obamacare, and it will reduce the deficit by more than $120 billion by 2021.

Yes, President Obama and Maryland Democrats like Sen. Ben Cardin and Rep. Steny Hoyer who voted for the Affordable Health Care Act do care.

Janice T. Walthour, Lexington Park