Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney (left) and vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan. Photo courtesy of CNN.

National Association of Social Workers New Hampshire Chapter Executive Director Stephen Gorin said Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and running mate Paul Ryan have plans that could hurt the income and healthcare  of older Americans.

In this column in the Bedford Patch, Gorin said Ryan’s 2012 budget bill contains  a proposal to “fast-track” changes in Social Security that could end up privatizing the program. Social Security is an insurance program and not an investment vehicle, Gorin said.

Ryan has a plan to make Medicare a voucher program. This is risky because vouchers likely would not keep up with the rising cost of healthcare, leaving people who are elderly having to spend more of their income for medical care.

Romney and Ryan have also said they want to revoke Obamacare, which has provisions that help older Americans, including closing the so-called prescription drug “donut hole” and free preventive healthcare.

“Combined, the policy changes that Romney/Ryan have in mind for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid would be devastating for older adults,” Gorin said.

The National Association of Social Workers’ Political Action for Candidate Election, or PACE political action arm, did a comparison of President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney on issues important to social workers and consumers. To read that analysis click here.