Dick Durbin: “The second question is: When seniors have to figure out whether or not they want to get involved in this program, they…”

“The second question is: When seniors have to figure out whether or not they want to get involved in this program, they have to make a calculation: Is it worth it to pay a premium each month and face a deductible at the end of the year? Will I be ahead or behind? As I understand it, we have heard a lot about a $35 monthly premium, but that is not mandated in this bill. There is no requirement that it be $35 a month. It could be considerably more. The $250 deductible that is in here I guess could be changed as well. So for the seniors who are trying to decide whether this makes sense based on their personal budgets--and that is what it comes down to--have we not created kind of a moving target as to what this is going to cost each senior across America?”