Mark Udall: “not a day goes by without my hearing from a senior who is struggling to pay for prescription drugs. Recently a senior in…”

“not a day goes by without my hearing from a senior who is struggling to pay for prescription drugs. Recently a senior in the town of Westminister, Colorado, told me how she has to visit the food bank once a week so she can afford her prescription drugs. Another told me how she plays her own version of the lottery. She puts all of her bills in a fish bowl, draws one bill, and the one she draws is the one she puts off paying so she can afford to take the drugs that the doctor tells her she needs. Unfortunately, these women are not alone. Medicare only covers two-thirds of its enrollees. No senior should be faced with a choice of paying for food, paying the electrical bill, or buying critical lifesaving medicines. We have an obligation to our Nation's seniors to provide them with the lifesaving drugs that they need and deserve. Mr. Speaker, when we take up, and we need to take up a prescription drug bill next week, we must provide a Medicare drug benefit that is affordable and dependable, without gaps or gimmicks in coverage. Members of Congress, government employees, employees of major corporations have this kind of coverage today. It is time our seniors did, too.”