With the presidential election less than three months away, News 12 The Bronx is examining the Medicare debate. Under the current policy, the federal government decides each year what the program will cover, leaving patients to foot the rest of the bill. However, the government tends to cover most of the expenses. Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan pushed a plan that would partially privatize Medicare, allowing the government to decide how much it would pay each year. Officials with Mitt Romney's campaign say the presidential hopeful is not bound to his running mate's ideas, and that he has announced a divergent policy. President Obama has announced he has no plans to change Medicare, especially since his health care overhaul allows free mamograms and annual wellness visits for program beneficiaries.