[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 165 (Friday, November 19, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2519-E2520]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW INSURANCE COVERAGE EQUITY ACT (NICE ACT)

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                         HON. JAMES H. MALONEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 18, 1999

  Mr. MALONEY of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, access to prescription drugs 
can mean the difference between life and death, or between health and 
chronic disease, particularly for senior citizens. While Medicare 
covers prescriptions administered in hospitals, two-thirds of older 
Americans have no insurance or inadequate coverage for outpatient 
medication. As a result, millions of seniors must pay high retail 
prices for drugs or inappropriately limit their drug use.
  Many seniors who are not able to afford their prescription dosage 
only buy part of their necessary medication, and take a small portion 
of the required dosage. Others forgo basic life necessities such as 
food and heating fuel to pay for their medicine.
  As a strong supporter of modernizing and strengthening Medicare, I am 
introducing the New Insurance Coverage Equity Act (the NICE Act) to 
make sure that all seniors have access to affordable drug coverage.
  Time and time again, I have heard from seniors in my district about 
their difficulty in obtaining the critical prescription drugs they 
need. One woman told me that she can only afford to pay for a week's 
worth of medicine each month instead of filling her entire 
prescription. That means that instead of taking her medication all 
month long, she spreads seven pills out over four weeks. Unfortunately, 
she is not alone.
  I recently spoke to a married couple in my district. Both husband and 
wife have expensive prescription medications they must take, but they 
simply can't afford to pay for both. Because his wife is more ill than 
he is, the husband stopped taking his medicine in order to pay for his 
wife's.
  I have heard similar stories from so many other seniors. That is why 
I have developed the NICE Act, which creates a comprehensive 
prescription drug program that will make essential medication more 
affordable for all seniors. My legislation not only provides access to 
affordable medicine but it also gives older Americans choices.
  The NICE Act creates a prescription medicine program modeled after 
the coverage available to Members of Congress. It would help seniors 
pay for all of their prescription needs at their local drug store. At 
the same time it would also cover seniors with pre-existing 
conditions--which other plans often exclude.
  Under the NICE Act, every older American who chooses to enroll would 
receive financial assistance for their prescription drug coverage. At a 
minimum, individuals would receive assistance equal to 25% of the cost. 
For seniors living at or below 150% of the poverty rate--$12,075 for an 
individual and $16,275 for a couple--the NICE Act would cover the 
entire premium for their prescription drugs. Older Americans living 
between 150% and 175% of the poverty rate--$14,088 for an individual 
and $18,988 for a couple--would only have to pay as much as they could 
afford on a sliding scale.

[[Page E2520]]

  Under my legislation, seniors would also have the right to either 
keep their existing coverage or participate in the NICE program. No 
senior would be forced to change their current coverage. The NICE 
program is entirely voluntary.
  Finally, my proposal is funded primarily from the on-budget surplus 
without any tax increase.
  Mr. Speaker, Congress must act now to help seniors receive the vital 
prescription drug coverage they rely on to live. As a vigorous 
supporter of modernizing and strengthening Medicare, I will continue to 
do everything I can to make prescription drugs accessible for our 
senior citizens. For that reason, I am introducing the New Insurance 
Coverage Equity Act today, and I urge all my colleagues to join me in 
sponsoring this common sense approach to making prescriptions 
affordable for our seniors.

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