Monica, Medicare is not free. In addition to Medicare tax withheld from every paycheck of my working life (paying into the system), every month the Medicare premium is deducted from my Social Security before it's direct deposited into my bank account, there is also a monthly premium for a Medicare Advantage plan that adds coverage for what traditional Medicare doesn't. Then there are copays for each doctor visit, ER visit copays, and various costs left over after the various insurance payments. Paul Ryan would deliver us senior citizens to the clutches of the insurance companies. God forbid!