On the recordMay 8, 2002
The HMOs are not going to provide that type of benefit. They have pretty much said that. So as the gentleman has pointed out and others have pointed out, to provide it as sort of a program that has to be accessible, like access to HMOs, one has to shop around and get it. Many seniors cannot even do that. Some can, thank God, but not everyone can. But to have to go and search, and then an HMO does not offer it, or does not provide that many benefits. So the only way to do it is the way the Democrats want to do it, and that is through a full Medicare benefit. It is voluntary, but it is universal. It is available to everyone on Medicare.
Source
govinfo.gov
