Tom Harkin: “So the Graham-Miller proposal is the one that does it through Medicare. It is the one on which seniors can rely, and it…”

“So the Graham-Miller proposal is the one that does it through Medicare. It is the one on which seniors can rely, and it is rock solid. This is the proposal the Republicans have right here on this chart. For example, they say, under their plan, a senior with $1,000 in drug care costs still pays $913. That is 91 percent that they still have to pay. And 18 percent of seniors have drug costs of about $250. Under this, they would pay everything. Eighteen percent have drug costs of $1,000. Under the Republican proposal, they would pay 91 percent, $913. Seventeen percent of seniors have $2,000 in drug costs a year. Under the Republican proposal, they would pay $1,413, or 71 percent. Twenty-three percent of seniors--about one out of four--have $4,000 a year in drug costs. Under the Republican bill, they would pay $2,688 out of pocket, or 67 percent. If they have $5,000 in drug costs, they are going to pay 74 percent out of pocket. What kind of insurance is that, where you are paying 91 percent, 71 percent, 67 percent, or 74 percent out of your own pocket? Would you buy insurance like that?”