Joseph Knollenberg: “the new majority plan to save Medicare includes new health care choices for seniors. I heard something about unfairness…”

“the new majority plan to save Medicare includes new health care choices for seniors. I heard something about unfairness over here a moment ago, but currently this is unfair. Medicare recipients are limited to a one-size-fits-all type of contract designed 30 years ago. It is time to expand those options. Why? Because giving seniors the right to choose from a variety of quality health care plans will create competition among health care providers, it will drive down costs, and it will allow seniors to pick a plan that meets their individual health care needs. My colleagues, our plan is about more choice, not less. More; we do not force seniors to give up their current coverage. If a senior likes the current system, he or she can stay in traditional fee-for-service Medicare. No questions asked. But if a senior wants to try something new, maybe a plan that covers prescription drugs and limits out-of-pocket costs, there is one for him. We provide that option. Mr. Speaker, more health care choices for seniors, not less. It is that simple.”