Janice Schakowsky: “The worst part of this deception is that it is going after senior citizens who count on prescription drugs day in and…”

“The worst part of this deception is that it is going after senior citizens who count on prescription drugs day in and day out to extend and enhance and perhaps save their lives, and it is telling them things like, the ad itself, where a senior says, ``So how is Medicare changing?'' And the answer, ``It is the same Medicare you have always counted on, plus more benefits, like prescription drug coverage.'' If I am a senior and I am watching this, I am thinking, here it is, what I have been waiting for, a prescription drug benefit. The first thing they are going to find out is, no, forget it, there is going to be nothing for 2 years except for, and we will talk about that later, this card. So there is not going to be any Medicare prescription drug plan of any sort for a couple of years. Then when they really find out the details, some of them are going to find out, ``If I join this plan, I am going to spend more on my Medicare.'' Millions of seniors would spend more if they signed up. So when they say it is the same Medicare you always counted on, plus more benefits like prescription drug coverage, it is not true. It is simply not true.”