Contact: Jared Allen
Phone: 202-225-3001June 13, 2002
Wexler Joins House Democrats to Announce
Medicare Prescription Drug Proposal(Washington, D.C.) Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) today joined Democratic members of the House of Representatives to unveil their Medicare Prescription Drug Proposal. The event highlighted the latest step in Congressional Democrats' long-standing efforts to pass a meaningful prescription drug plan for our nation's seniors.
"There is a health care crisis in America. Yet Republicans have failed to address the needs of seniors. They have refused to pass a prescription drug plan under Medicare. They have blocked HMO reform and ignored the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs," said Wexler.
Congressman Wexler has been a leading advocate of a comprehensive prescription drug plan under Medicare throughout his tenure in the House of Representatives. The plan announced today, which Wexler is cosponsoring, would ensure that seniors pay no more than a $25 premium, and would provide a Medicare Part B type benefit, with Medicare paying 80 percent of the cost, and seniors paying 20 percent. The plan has a $100 deductible, and any drug costs over $2000 would be covered 100 percent.
Earlier this year, Congressman Wexler introduced legislation that would rescind a top portion of the Bush tax cut that is expected to take effect in 2004 to pay for a Medicare prescription drug plan. Wexler reiterated the importance of his legislation, the Honor Thy Parents Act, at today's rally. "It is unconscionable that the critical needs of America's greatest generation are being so blatantly disregarded, while the wants of the most affluent few in our country are being met over and over again," Wexler added.
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