    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
    [November 22, 2003]
    [Pages 1602-1603]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    November 22, 2003

        Good morning. This week Congress made significant progress toward
    improving the lives of America's senior citizens. The House of
    Representatives passed legislation that would bring prescription drug
    coverage to Medicare and lead to health care choices for our seniors.
    This legislation, if also passed by the Senate, would represent the
    greatest improvement in senior health care since Medicare was enacted in
    1965.
        When these reforms take full effect, our seniors would see real
    savings in their health care costs. Within 6 months, seniors would be
    eligible for a drug discount card that would save them between 10 and 25
    percent off the retail price of most drugs. When the full drug benefit
    arrives in 2006, all seniors become eligible for drug coverage for a
    monthly premium of about $35. For most seniors without coverage today,
    the Medicare drug plan would cut their annual drug bills roughly in
    half.
        Seniors with the highest drug bills would save the most, and seniors
    with the greatest need would get the most help. Low-income seniors would
    pay a reduced premium or no premium at all for the new drug coverage.
    And low-income seniors would also have lower copayments for their
    medicines.
        Here is an example of how this benefit would work. A senior taking
    drugs to treat arthritis, high cholesterol, and migraines has a typical
    drug bill of about $250 a month, or $3,000 a year. With this
    legislation, this retiree would save $1,680 after paying her insurance
    premiums--more than half her current drug costs.
        Under the new reforms, seniors would have more choices of health
    care coverage. Should seniors want to stay in traditional Medicare and
    receive a prescription drug benefit, they would be able to do so. Some
    seniors may want expanded coverage for extended hospital stays or
    protection against high out-of-pocket medical expenses, or they may want
    the coverage that comes with managed care plans. Under the new law, all
    those choices would be available. With choice, seniors would have more
    control over their health care options, and health plans would compete
    for the business with better coverage.
        We're on the verge of success because of bipartisan leadership and
    because of the support of many advocates for seniors, including the
    AARP. Throughout many months of discussion and debate, we've remained
    focused on the clear objective: to modernize and strengthen the Medicare
    system. And by working together, we're close to meeting that goal.
        In the nearly 40 years since Medicare was launched, this is the most
    significant opportunity for any Congress to improve health coverage for
    our seniors. Now we're down to the final stages. This Congress will
    decide whether or not seniors will have prescription drug coverage under
    Medicare, and this Congress will decide whether America's seniors will
    have better health care choices.
        I urge all Members of Congress to remember what is at stake and to
    remember the promise we have made to America's seniors. The quality of
    their health care and the future strength of Medicare depends on the
    passage of this much needed legislation.

    [[Page 1603]]

        Thank you for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 4:35 p.m. on November 21 for broadcast
    at 10:06 a.m. on November 22. The transcript was made available by the
    Office of the Press Secretary on November 21 but was embargoed for
    release until the broadcast. The Office of the Press Secretary also
    released a Spanish language transcript of this address.