Governor George W. Bush
Medicare Proposal

Governor Bush provides an immediate $48 billion to states to get seniors prescription drugs. Plus he will fast track Medicare modernization so the Medicare system can be strengthened and reformed for the long term. His plan will:

Guarantee that every senior can stay in their current Medicare plan. - Give Medicare recipients a choice of other health plans based on their health needs. Provide prescription drugs to low income seniors immediately. - Cover any prescription drug costs in excess of $6,000 annually for all seniors. Pay 25% of premium costs for prescription drug coverage for all seniors above 175% of poverty. Cover all costs of prescription drugs for seniors with incomes at or below 135% of poverty, and a part of the cost for seniors with incomes between 135% and 175% of poverty. Provide $110 billion over 10 years to modernize the Medicare system. - Cover catastrophic Medicare costs in excess of $6,000 annually for all seniors. Al Gore's Medicare proposal retains a one-size-fits-all method of reform, which will:

Deny any prescription drug benefits immediately - benefits under Gore's plan are not fully implemented until 2002. Prevent choice - Gore's plan must be chosen at age 64. Seniors to change their minds later are out of luck. - Roadblock modernization Gore's plan does nothing to modernize or reform Medicare. Prevent options - Gore's plan does not allow seniors to choose a plan to meet their individual needs. Al Gore's Record Hurts Seniors:

Clinton and Gore torpedoed the recommendations of the bipartisan Medicare Commission, which included Democratic Senators John Breaux and Bob - Under the Clinton/Gore Administration, America has 44 million uninsured - an increase of 8 million, including 2.43 million children, since 1993. The administration has been unable to work with Congress to pass a Patients' Bill of Rights measure. In late June, the House of Representatives passed a bipartisan prescription drug plan - but Vice President Gore didn't lift a finger to persuade more House Democrats to support it.

"I want to seize this moment to modernize Medicare. To increase, not just funding, but choices, and quality, and security. To provide a prescription drug benefit. And to place Medicare on firm financial ground."
- Governor George W. Bush

                                                                                           
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