Republican Medicare Bill Hurts Rural Seniors, Helps Insurance Companies

PR Newswire August 23, 2004, Monday

HEADLINE: Pelosi: Republican Medicare Bill Hurts Rural Seniors, Helps Insurance Companies

DATELINE: WASHINGTON, Aug. 23

BODY:

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today in response to news reports that insurance companies have told the Bush Administration that they will not expand their role in Medicare if they have to serve large multi-state regions, including rural areas.

"When it comes to the Medicare program, Republicans have been ruthless in their politics, and heartless in their policy. The Republicans developed a Medicare bill that placed their privatization schemes ahead of the needs of our nation's seniors and people with disabilities. Instead of working with beneficiaries and health care providers to come up with a prescription drug plan everyone could understand and make work, the Republicans chose a one size fits all plan with a huge gap in coverage that eliminates benefits just when seniors need help the most.

"Insurance companies have received a multi-billion dollar windfall from the Republican bill, and now they're back making more demands. This is what happens when Republicans write bills for special interests rather than for people. The Medicare bill has not lowered prescription drug prices and it will not provide more choices or greater access to health care for seniors in rural areas.

"Next year, when Democrats are in the majority, we will stop trying to force seniors into HMOS, and pass a true prescription drug benefit that lowers drug prices for seniors and people with disabilities, and increases access to health care for rural seniors."