David Thomas: “Some of our friends on the other side of the aisle are saying that if this bill becomes law, it will be the end of…”

“Some of our friends on the other side of the aisle are saying that if this bill becomes law, it will be the end of Medicare as we know it. Our answer to that is, We certainly hope so. Why should seniors be the last group that pays retail prices for drugs? Old-fashioned Medicare isn't very good. Why should the insurance for seniors be called MediGap? I think that indicates just how good the insurance is. But what I did say was, you will hear scare tactics. But seniors with extremely high drug costs when this becomes law will save more than 60 percent of their current costs if they spend $10,000 a year on prescription drugs today. That is real change. That is real progress, making Medicare a real day-to-day benefit. I would say to my colleagues, if you really think that current Medicare should not end, why in the world did you put up such a fit to have a substitute so that if we accept your bill, current Medicare as we know it will end as well? Half quotes are not going to get it done.”