Frank Pallone: “Part of the reason why the Democratic proposal and what the Democrats have been talking about tonight is so much better…”

“Part of the reason why the Democratic proposal and what the Democrats have been talking about tonight is so much better than what the Republicans have been proposing is because of its simplicity. We know that right now under the existing Medicare program it is very easy for the average senior to sign up, be part of the program and benefit from the program. All seniors and even the disabled who are under 65 that are eligible for Medicare know that their hospitalization is covered. They know that if they pay a premium, I think it is about $40 a month for part B to cover their doctor bills, that they will have a guaranteed benefit and that the Federal Government will pay 80 percent of the cost of their doctor bills, and that if they are in a traditional fee-for-service plan, rather than an HMO, which most seniors are still in the traditional Medicare fee-for-service program, that they can go to any doctor, they can go to any hospital and Medicare is going to cover it.”