By RFD Radio/WFMB

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., continues to describe the Senate Republican’s health care overhaul plan one with devastating effects.

Much of Duckworth’s concern is centered on Medicaid.

“It would gut Medicaid, a program that as many as tens of millions of new mothers, children, seniors and veterans and people with disabilities rely on in order to lead full, happy and productive lives,” Duckworth said. “Most of us don’t realize this, but one in 10 veterans relies on Medicaid for their health care.”

Duckworth added veterans didn’t just earn health care benefits, many of them have unique needs….

“Out of pocket costs would increase, deductibles would rise and premiums would go up especially for people between the ages of 25 and 64 and this would be devastating especially with an aging of the Baby Boomer population,” Duckworth said.

During a Duckworth teleconference on the health care debate, Citizen Action Illinois Co-Director Lynda DeLaforgue warned of a double whammy, saying the American Health Care Act combined with the continued lack of a budget in Illinois could lead to deep cuts in federal health care funding in Illinois.