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Prescription Drug and Medicare Improvement Act of 2003 - Cont.

Date: June 26, 2003
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Drugs

PRESCRIPTION DRUG AND MEDICARE IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2003—CONTINUED

AMENDMENT NO. 1060

Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I will just take a moment to address the amendment of the Senator from California, Mrs. Feinstein, and her colleagues, in terms of means testing the Medicare system. That is what we would be doing, changing what is effectively an insurance system into a welfare system. There is, really, no question about that.

The fact is, the Part B of the Medicare system is basically a progressive system as it is at the present time. Wealthy people are paying a great deal more into that system than they are taking out.

My concern is, if this passes, it is only a question of time before the healthiest individuals who can qualify under the Part B premium are going to leave the Medicare system and it is going to deteriorate into a general welfare system. The kind of Medicare system seniors relied on, day in and day out, would be destroyed. Make no mistake about it.

That is why the AARP is strongly opposed to it, as well as the National Committee to Preserve Social Security.

I hope this amendment is not accepted. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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