On the recordMarch 18, 2010
I just wanted to talk a little bit about older women because, and really all seniors, but the fact of the matter is that 80 percent of people over the age of 85 are women. Fifty-seven percent of Medicare beneficiaries are women. So when you talk about aging you really are talking about mostly women. And I think it's important to note some of the amazing things that happen in this bill. Representative Brown talked about, or maybe it was you, talked about the doughnut hole. What is that? That's a gap in coverage. You know, let me tell my example. I have a constituent who got on Medicare part D. She was told when she signed up that it was going to cover her prescription drugs. She looked over the list. One day she goes to the drug store, orders a refill of her prescription and she is told it's $120. She said, that's impossible. I paid $10 for it last month. It is impossible for it to be $120. I know. They said, no, no. You are now in this gap in coverage where you have to pay the next $3,600 out of your own pocket, and then you'll start to be covered again.
