For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 18, 2002
Radio Address by the President to the Nation
The Cabinet Room
THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Medicare is one of the most
important and compassionate programs in American history. It provides
medical care to the elderly and people with disabilities. It is a
source of security and dignity for tens of millions of Americans. The
health of America's senior citizens is one of America's most sacred
obligations, and it is a commitment my administration will fully
honor.
Yet we need to do more to fulfill Medicare's promise. Seniors
should have affordable coverage choices that meet their needs. But
Medicare does not do that. Many seniors need prescription drug
coverage. Medicare does not provide it. And because Medicare does not
cover prescription drugs, seniors often pay the highest prices for
drugs out of their own pockets, forcing too many of our seniors to
chose between paying for pills or paying their bills.
Medicare is an essential program, but it has not kept pace with the
advances in medicine. The Medicare program is costly for seniors and
too often does not provide the choices that our seniors need, and our
seniors want. So Medicare must be strengthened, and it must be
improved.
Congress is working hard to pass legislation that will help many
seniors with their drug costs, and guarantee all senior citizens
prescription drug coverage. I strongly support these efforts.
At the same time, I am working for a Medicare endorsed drug card,
that will allow seniors to get lower prices from drug manufactures
right away. And I'm working for temporary assistance with drug costs
for seniors with limited incomes, even before the full prescription
drug benefit becomes available a few years from now.
Medicare also needs to give every senior affordable, up-to- date
health insurance options. Right now, more than 5 million Medicare
members have access to valuable, modern health insurance benefits and
prescription drug coverage in Medicare plus Choice plans.
These improved benefits, along with innovative treatments, probably
saved Joe Hotin's life. Mr. Hotin served in the Navy in World War II.
He joined his Medicare plus Choice in 1995. Because his health plan
covers annual checkups, Joe's doctor caught a spot and got it treated
before it turned into life threatening cancer.
Many of these treatments and programs that can save and improve
lives, and reduce health care costs, are only available through
Medicare's private plans. Unfortunately, millions of Medicare members
do not have the option to choose these benefits. The federal
government has long provided reliable coverage choices to all its
employees. But current law prevents private health plans from giving
Medicare enrollees the same choices. As a result, over 100 private
plans have left Medicare, and millions of seniors have lost the
valuable additional benefits that private plans provide.
We must act now to provide every Medicare member with more choices
and more savings. Medicare needs a fair system of competition, a
system that encourages additional benefits and options for better care
at lower cost. Medicare is crucial to elderly Americans. I urge
members of both parties to work together to protect and improve
Medicare, and to maintain our moral commitment to millions of
Americans.
Thank you for listening.
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