Mike Levin: “I support making a prescription drug benefit available to seniors. Most Members of the Senate do. However, there are…”

“I support making a prescription drug benefit available to seniors. Most Members of the Senate do. However, there are honest disagreements about how to get it done and whether the bill before us will strengthen or weaken Medicare. My principles are simple. The benefit should be voluntary, guaranteed, universal, and affordable. Perhaps my greatest concern with the bill before us is the effect its passage is likely to have on retirees who currently have prescription drug coverage provided by their former employers. Many retirees currently enjoy good prescription drug coverage from their former employer. However, the Congressional Budget Office has indicated that if we adopt the legislation before us approximately 37 percent of retirees who are currently receiving prescription drug coverage from their former employers will lose that coverage.”