A STARK TRANSLATION OF WHAT THE PRESIDENT REALLY MEANS WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT HIS PLANS FOR MEDICARE

COMMENTARY BY CONGRESSMAN PETE STARK (D. CA)

PRESIDENT BUSH SAYS: "The problems will not be solved with a nationalized health care system that dictates coverage and rations care."

PRESIDENT BUSH MEANS: "I'll give private, profit-hungry health insurance companies and HMOs free rein to dictate coverage and ration care."

PRESIDENT BUSH SAYS: "Health care reform must begin with Medicare."

PRESIDENT BUSH MEANS: "Medicare is an expensive federal program that will grow ever more so as baby boomers age. Converting Medicare to a voucher program will limit government expenditures and shift costs to seniors."

PRESIDENT BUSH SAYS: "Seniors happy with the current Medicare system should be able to keep their coverage just the way it is."

PRESIDENT BUSH MEANS: "Sure, you can stay in Medicare, but if you do, you won't get any prescription drug coverage. A prescription drug benefit will never become part of Medicare like doctors visits and hospital stays are today. Instead, seniors who want prescription drug coverage will be forced to leave Medicare and join an HMO, or other private plan, to get any prescription drug benefits."

PRESIDENT BUSH SAYS: "My budget will commit an additional $400 billion over the next decade to reform and strengthen Medicare."

PRESIDENT BUSH MEANS: "My budget has $674 billion (nearly $1 trillion when you add in the cost of debt service) for yet another tax break for the wealthy. This comes atop my 2001 tax cut plan that totaled more than $1.7 trillion. Having given so much money away in taxes, I really don't have enough left to give seniors a real Medicare prescription drug benefit."

PRESIDENT BUSH SAYS: "I believe it's very important for seniors to be given the same opportunities that members of the Congress, members of the Senate have. They ought to be able to choose their own health care plan, including fee-for-service plans. If it's good enough for the Congress, it's good enough for the senior citizens of America."

PRESIDENT BUSH MEANS: "If I make seniors think theyıre getting the same health care as members of Congress, I'll be able to end Medicare's entitlement that guarantees coverage of defined benefits. Instead, I can give them a voucher and let them try to find a private health plan that fits their needs at a price they can afford."

Congressman Pete Stark represents the 13th Congressional District of California.  This commentary was emailed to the Center for Medicare Advocacy's Healthcare Rights Project, in Washington D.C. on January 29, 2003, and is reprinted with the permission of the Congressman's office.

İ Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc. 05/02/2008