House Republican Drug Plan Provides More Relief for House Incumbents than for Seniors

Seniors Will Continue to Pay the Lion's Share of Drug Costs Under the GOP Plan

Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA, the national organization for health care consumers, released the following statement today concerning the prescription drug plan proposed by House Republicans:

"The House Republican prescription drug plan is far better designed to provide political protection for House incumbents than drug cost relief for America's seniors. The proposal provides precious little assistance and keeps prescription drugs unaffordable for millions of seniors.

"The House Republican plan is an illusion-the closer you look, the less substance you see. Two major flaws make this painfully evident.

"First, for those who can get coverage, the proposal provides a very meager benefit and forces seniors to pay the lion's share of drug costs. As a result, too many seniors will remain unable to afford the medicines they need.

"Second, the proposal does not guarantee drug coverage for America's seniors. This is because this proposal seeks to provide prescription drug coverage through private insurance companies-rather than through the Medicare program. Insurance companies don't want to offer such coverage, and they have a miserable record of providing it. There is no guarantee that insurance companies will offer drug coverage in specific communities, and the Republican proposal allows insurance companies to define the coverage they offer in different locations. As a result, seniors will have no certainty about the premiums they need to pay, the cost-sharing they will bear, the drugs that are covered, and under what conditions they can obtain those drugs."

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Families USA is the national organization for health care consumers. It is nonprofit and nonpartisan and advocates for high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans.

1201 New York Avenue NW, Suite 1100 · Washington, DC 20005
202-628-3030 · Email: info@familiesusa.org · www.familiesusa.org