[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 86 (Friday, June 30, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1179]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE FOR SENIORS

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                         HON. MICHAEL P. FORBES

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 29, 2000

  Mr. FORBES, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to submit a letter I received from 
Adam Zaveski of Southhold, Long Island. Mr. Zaveski describes about his 
personal situation and the financial strains he and so many other 
seniors are experiencing.

       Dear Mr. Forbes: I am writing this letter to let you know 
     how some of our Senior Citizens have to live. I am 98 (and 5 
     months) years old and not able to do any work, blind in one 
     eye, can't hear [any] word[s] hardly at all and can't hardly 
     walk. I have to live on $530.00 a month [from] Social 
     Security and have a small income which, I have with my 
     daughter who I live with. [It is] $140.00 a month [and] she 
     does not take any of it. She gives it all to me to pay for my 
     medicine.
       I have 5 prescriptions which cost me $23.00 for one pill 
     and I use 5 every day which runs into $115.00 for 100 pills. 
     I pay $60.00 for EPIC and $130.00 a month for [supplemental 
     insurance through] AARP. Other medicines I pay [for] in cash.
       You politicians do not realize that us Old Timers never got 
     into the high wages that they get today. I used to farm for a 
     living [and] only made a living. What money I had I spent on 
     my wife. She had diabetes and had both feet amputated and 
     spent 6 months in [the] hospital. I had no insurance and 
     Medicare paid for 3 months and [I] had to pay the rest.
       I think I [have] done some good in the country while I was 
     young. I belonged to [the] Fire Department [for] 60 years and 
     I was a Trusted Lieutenant, Department Chief, and a Fire 
     Commissioner for 9 years. 20 [years as a] School Trustee, 7 
     years [on the] 4H Executive Board, 40 [years as a] Farm 
     Bureau Trustee and a political Trustee for 25 years.
           Thank you,
                                                     Adam Zaveski.

  There are thousands of Mr. Zaveski's across this Nation who have 
given so much to make this country great. In their time of need, let's 
not turn our backs.
  Now is the time that this Congress heard the pleas of our seniors and 
help Mr. Zaveski and others. Now is the time to pass a reliable, 
affordable and comprehensive Medicare prescription drug plan.

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