Sylvester Turner: “that sounds like a good competitive program, because they have got traditional Medicare there to keep the private HMO…”

“that sounds like a good competitive program, because they have got traditional Medicare there to keep the private HMO industry honest. What would happen to us if we did not have traditional Medicare in my rural east Texas district today? With all of those HMOs pulling out, with 15 of my 19 counties having no Medicare+Choice HMO option, my seniors would be left with nothing if they did not have traditional Medicare. I submit to my colleagues, there are those in this House who do not like traditional Medicare for one reason or another. But the truth is, if we are going to have a system of health care for seniors, if we are going to keep the HMOs honest in terms of what they offer and the prices they are demanding to offer it, we need to keep traditional Medicare in place. I will also submit to my colleagues, if we are unable to provide a prescription drug benefit under traditional Medicare, those who advocate getting rid of traditional Medicare will carry the day. Because when faced with the choice of choosing a private HMO plan with prescription drug coverage and a Medicare plan without it, many of our seniors will be forced to exercise the choice of choosing the private HMO plan. So it is essential for those who really believe in privatizing Medicare and turning it over to the insurance companies, they had better think a little bit.…”