[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 160 (Wednesday, December 14, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H11510-H11511]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           MEDICARE DRUG PLAN

  (Mr. DeFAZIO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, the President breezed through a senior 
center yesterday, and he said, well, the Medicare drug plan seems 
perplexing, but he urged seniors to sign up anyway. It's a good deal, 
he said, of the program.
  Well, it's a great deal for the pharmaceutical industry because it 
protects

[[Page H11511]]

their profits, and they get subsidies. It's a fabulous deal for the 
private insurance industry because they are getting subsidized to offer 
plans which they can change on a daily basis in terms of senior 
benefits, and seniors can only sign up once a year; but it isn't 
necessarily a good deal for many seniors. So the President gave bad 
advice.
  Very low-income seniors, yes, they should, if they are not covered by 
another plan, look very carefully at their options and probably sign 
up. Others with very high prescription drug costs who don't have 
another plan, perhaps, but some would be losers under this plan. Many 
others, it is questionable whether they should sign up, and the 
government is not making it easy for them.
  Minimally, we should extend the penalty deadline. After all, if the 
pharmaceutical companies and the insurance companies can change the 
seniors' benefits on a daily basis, why is it seniors can only sign up 
for one plan a year, can't change plans and will be penalized if they 
don't sign up by May?

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