In a 1997 government survey, only 2 percent of people over 65 said they had difficulty obtaining prescription drugs. Medicare faces a looming financial crisis. Real Medicare reform should give seniors more choices - not more government. After paying into the system for over three decades, they should be able to use Medicare s limited funds to select the type of coverage that is right for their individual circumstances, including coverage for prescription drug costs. Talking Points 1.
Most seniors already have drug coverage and can afford their medicines.
65 percent of senior citizens have insurance coverage for outpatient prescription medicines. In a 1997 government survey, only 2 percent of people over 65 said they had difficulty obtaining prescription drugs. Medicaid pays for prescription medicine for impoverished seniors. A government-run prescription drug program would make things worse for most seniors. Under the Clinton-Gore plan and the plan proposed by Democrats in Congress, all seniors will be forced into the government program.