Congressional
Medicare prescription drug legislation talking points
Points by Bob Weiner:
A real Medicare reform bill as the Democrats proposed,
with full prescription coverage and under the current Medicare system, is
desperately needed. But this Republican controlled Medicare revision
bill will:
- Turn Medicare over to the for-profit big business, big health
corporation buddies of George Bush (Kennedy's main gripe about the House
bill, which Bush wants over the Senate bill, and why Kennedy is opting
OUT of the compromise after first supporting the better Senate version).
- Create a horrible "doughnut" or gap of thousands of dollars seniors
will still have to pay.
- Take AWAY coverage people already have in many companies and WEAKEN
it because the companies will forfeit current coverage for the new weaker
federal plan
- Bring back the problems of Catastrophic Health Insurance Coverage
which blew up in Congress's face after it passed it years ago -- Seniors
rebelled because of too high premiums and gaps in coverage. Congress had
to RESCIND the bill two years after it passed it. This is the SAME
THING. Congress obviously hasn't learned its lesson.
- Get people dropped in HMO's because they don't want to cover the coverage!
We need guaranteed insurability to "stop the drop" and guaranteed
rates.
Points by DNC National Radio
Director Kandy Stroud:
President Bush addressed the subject of Medicare
in the Rose Garden recently, but the outlook for Medicare, if the Republicans
have their way, is hardly rosey.
In short, the GOP drug plan would dismantle Medicare.
It not only fails to deal with rising drug prices but
it also gives a massive windfall to drug manufacturers.
The Republican Plan would:
- Lock in skyrocketing prescription drug prices;
- Subsidize HMOs and leave Medicare to "wither on the vine;"
- Turn Medicare into a means-tested program;
- Raise costs for premiums, doctors, lab work, home healthcare;
- Cause retirees to lose the drug coverage they have currently;
- Cause many Medicare beneficiaries to lose their doctor