[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 21 (Monday, May 27, 2002)]
[Pages 851-852]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

May 18, 2002

    Good morning. Medicare is one of the most important and 
compassionate programs in American history. It provides medical care to 
the elderly and people with disabilities. It is a source of security and 
dignity for tens of millions of Americans. The health of America's 
senior citizens is one of America's most sacred obligations, and it is a 
commitment my administration will fully honor.
    Yet we need to do more to fulfill Medicare's promise. Seniors should 
have affordable coverage choices that meet their needs, but Medicare 
does not do that. Many seniors need prescription drug coverage; Medicare 
does not provide it. And because Medicare does not cover prescription 
drugs, seniors often pay the highest prices for drugs out of their own 
pockets, forcing too many of our seniors to choose between paying for 
pills or paying their bills.
    Medicare is an essential program, but it has not kept pace with the 
advances in medicine. The Medicare program is costly for seniors and too 
often does not provide the choices that our seniors need and our seniors 
want, so Medicare must be strengthened, and it must be improved.
    Congress is working hard to pass legislation that will help many 
seniors with their drug costs and guarantee all senior citizens 
prescription drug coverage. I strongly support these efforts.
    At the same time, I am working for a Medicare-endorsed drug card 
that will allow seniors to get lower prices from drug manufactures right 
away. And I'm working for temporary assistance with drug costs for 
seniors with limited incomes, even before the full prescription drug 
benefit becomes available a few years from now.
    Medicare also needs to give every senior affordable, up-to-date 
health insurance options. Right now, more than 5 million Medicare 
members have access to valuable modern health insurance benefits and 
prescription drug coverage in Medicare Plus Choice plans.
    These improved benefits, along with innovative treatments, probably 
saved Joe Hotin's life. Mr. Hotin served in the Navy in World War II. He 
joined his Medicare Plus Choice in 1995. Because his health plan covers 
annual checkups, Joe's doctor caught a spot and got it treated before it 
turned into life threatening cancer.
    Many of these treatments and programs that can save and improve 
lives and reduce health care costs are only available through Medicare's 
private plans. Unfortunately, millions of Medicare members do not have 
the option to choose these benefits. The Federal Government has long 
provided reliable coverage choices to all its employees, but current law 
prevents private health plans from giving Medicare enrollees the same 
choices. As a result, over 100 private plans have left Medicare, and 
millions of seniors have lost

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the valuable additional benefits that private plans provide.
    We must act now to provide every Medicare member with more choices 
and more savings. Medicare needs a fair system of competition, a system 
that encourages additional benefits and options for better care at lower 
cost. Medicare is crucial to elderly Americans. I urge members of both 
parties to work together to protect and improve Medicare and to maintain 
our moral commitment to millions of Americans.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 9:10 a.m. on May 17 in the Cabinet 
Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on May 18. The 
transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
May 17 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The Office of 
the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of this 
address.