Max Baucus: “Mr. Chairman, here in Washington, people often lose the forest for the trees. I'm afraid we may be doing just that on…”

“Mr. Chairman, here in Washington, people often lose the forest for the trees. I'm afraid we may be doing just that on Medicare. So I hope we can begin by remembering what life was like for older Americans before Medicare. The fact is, before we created Medicare, our senior citizens lived in fear. Everyone over sixty knew that private insurance was shaky and expensive at best, and would cost them more every year. And a serious illness--or even a common ailment that required treatment but did not threaten life--was not only a health problem, but something that could reduce a whole family to poverty. Today, Medicare has removed that fear from our lives. Those of us with short memories have forgotten it ever existed. But let me tell you about some people who don't. Two weeks ago I spent some time at the Seniors Center in Great Falls, Montana. The people at the center know exactly what Medicare and Social Security mean to their lives. It means a little financial security. Some faith that illnesses will be treated and that families won't be wiped out by the cost.”