Political Quotes

“I could not agree more. In 1965, we set up the promise of health care for those over age 65 and those who are disabled through Medicare, a wonderful American success story. Yet because it has not been updated to cover prescriptions, it no longer covers the way health care is provided today. My mother as well, my aunt, my uncle, my other relatives who have had health care coverage when working, now find themselves in a situation where they cannot really get what they need because most of what they need is outpatient prescription drug coverage. I know that is why we are working so hard in the Senate to bring the sense of urgency that Mrs. Askin feels to pass a comprehensive prescription drug benefit, not one like, unfortunately, our colleagues on the other side in the House have been proposing, which for most people would give less than 20 percent coverage and cut our hospitals and create more costs for home health care in the process. That plan is not good enough. What we are talking about is something that would allow us to provide comprehensive prescription drug coverage without adding costs for home health or cutting our hospitals that have already been cut but looking at something comprehensively. When we look at Mrs. Askin, the bottom line for her is if she were to do what she needs to do to remain healthy, it would be a monthly bill of $938. How can someone do that? How can someone do that and live?”