Barbara Mikulski: “I want a medicare prescription drug plan that benefits seniors--not a plan that benefits insurance companies. That is…”

“I want a medicare prescription drug plan that benefits seniors--not a plan that benefits insurance companies. That is why I am a cosponsor of the Stabenow amendment. This amendment gives seniors a choice: to get their prescription drugs through traditional Medicare or through a private insurance company. Why is this important? Because it lets seniors choose the program that fits their needs. Seniors trust Medicare. It has provided a safety net for seniors for almost 40 years. Medicare hasn't let them down. We can't say the same about insurance companies. We have been down that road in Maryland with Medicare+Choice. The insurance companies came in. They enticed seniors with promises of better care and prescription drugs. They took the money from our seniors and left town leaving over 100,000 Maryland seniors without coverage. Seniors in my State were gouged and abandoned. So I don't trust insurance companies to be there for seniors. I trust seniors to make their own decision to decide which prescription drug plan is best for them. Seniors trust Medicare. When given an opportunity, I think seniors will choose Medicare.”