WASHINGTON — In letter after letter, Republican lawmakers have reminded their constituents: Obamacare cut Medicare. Implied, and sometimes stated outright, was that the GOP’s own plan should

instead bolster the program. “Any reforms must protect Medicare,” Congressman Ted Poe, a Texas Republican who represents a district in the Houston area, wrote in a letter last month to one

of his constituents about the Affordable Care Act’s failures and his party’s own plans. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in THIS ARTICLE IS EXCLUSIVE TO STAT+ SUBSCRIBERS

UNLOCK THIS ARTICLE — PLUS IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS, NEWSLETTERS, PREMIUM EVENTS, AND NEWS ALERTS. Already have an account? Log in Individual plans Group plans View All Plans To read the rest of