The Democrats have misrepresented the plan as ending Medicare for today’s seniors. It would not have. But it would have changed it to the point where it would have been medicare in name only. The two essential features of medicare are (1) you cannot be denied it become some private insurance company thinks you are too risky, and (2) you get it whether you an afford it or not. The Republican plan would have ended those two features.

GOP Aim: Cut $4 Trillion

Budget Plan Would Transform Medicare, Reset Budget Debate; Democrats Balk
Wall Street Journal, April 4, 2011
By NAFTALI BENDAVID

Republicans will present this week a 2012 budget proposal that would cut more than $4 trillion from federal spending projected over the next decade and transform the Medicare health program for the elderly … 

The plan would essentially end Medicare, which now pays most of the health-care bills for 48 million elderly and disabled Americans, as a program that directly pays those bills. Mr. Ryan and other conservatives say this is necessary …  

The Ryan budget outline was was passed by the House on April 15 by a vote of 235 to 193, almost entirely on party lines. Not a single Democrat voted for it; four Republicans voted against it.