Max Baucus: “I address an issue that many of my colleagues have asked me about over the past 2 weeks. It is an issue of great concern…”

“I address an issue that many of my colleagues have asked me about over the past 2 weeks. It is an issue of great concern to many, particularly on my side of the aisle. That is, if this bill is enacted, how much will premiums vary and what will the actual effect of premium variation be for seniors? Now, we have had a couple of votes already on this subject. I have not had a chance to address it directly and I would like to do so at this point. The issue again is the extent to which benefits and premiums may vary under this new Medicare drug benefit. My Democratic colleagues are concerned that if benefits and premiums for participating drug plans are allowed to vary seniors will be confused and they will be unable to make informed choices, that is, the premiums seniors would pay, the monthly amounts they would pay for prescription drug coverage, should they volunteer to participate--that is, if they volunteer to participate, because it is an entirely voluntary program. It is not mandatory like the old catastrophic coverage bill was--in 1989 I think it was. This is voluntary.”