Frank Pallone: “reclaiming my time, the Democratic proposal, which is like part B, which is the part of Medicare that pays for the…”

“reclaiming my time, the Democratic proposal, which is like part B, which is the part of Medicare that pays for the doctors' bills, there is a premium, low deductible, and 80 percent of your doctors' bills are paid for under part B, and almost everyone signs up for it because it is a good deal. We are suggesting we do the same thing with prescription drugs. What I think is important, particularly for poorer people or people who do not have the money to pay for the premium, just like under part B for your doctors' bills, if you are below a certain income, we pay for that premium. If you are a little above that, we pay for part of the premium. We would be doing the same thing under the Democratic proposal for prescription drugs. That $25 premium that you would pay per month for the prescription drug benefit under Medicare, would be totally paid for by the Federal Government if you are below a certain income; and if you are just above that, it would be partially paid for by the Federal Government. So no one would not be able to get the Medicare benefit because they could not afford the premium.”