Question Title Q: Democrats have made the claim that Republicans want to "essentially end Medicare," referring to GOP lawmakers' support for Rep. Paul Ryan's 2011 budget proposal. What would Ryan's plan actually have done for current Medicare beneficiaries? Current beneficiaries would have their choice of staying with the current program or moving to a system of private insurance, purchased with the help of government subsidies. The traditional Medicare program would end, and current beneficiaries would receive subsidies with which to buy private insurance. Nothing. Current beneficiaries would have stayed on the same Medicare program as it is now. Next