Michael Burgess: “this weekend we are going to mark the 6- month anniversary where we in this House passed the conference report to…”

“this weekend we are going to mark the 6- month anniversary where we in this House passed the conference report to modernize Medicare. Since that time, in 6 months' time, we are now on the threshold of having the Medicare prescription drug discount card, which will come to us June 1, and that will make a user-friendly database available to seniors across the country. For the first time, seniors will be able to comparison shop for their prescription drugs, just like they do for cruises, shoes and other necessities. Also, since that time, we have seen the growth of Health Savings Accounts that were part of that legislation. There are some interesting figures about Health Savings Accounts. Almost half of the people signing up for Health Savings Accounts earn under $50,000 a year, hardly a program that just benefits the rich, but we hear that over and over again. Fifty-six percent of the people that have signed up for Health Savings Accounts are under 40 years of age. Sixty-two percent are families, as opposed to just individuals, and there are comparable benefits after the deductibles are met. The most important thing, though, Mr. Speaker, is this is money that patients own and they control. It is their accounts, not the government's.”