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2.3 Million FL Seniors Would Suffer in GOP Gap;
Graham Calls Plan 'Unconscionable and Unacceptable'
July 18, 2002
WASHINGTON (July 18, 2002) – A study released today by Senate Democrats
shows that more than 2.3 million Florida seniors who receive Medicare would lose
prescription drug benefits partway through the year under the plan being pushed
by Senate Republicans.
The GOP plan would require them to continue to pay a monthly premium even
as they received no benefits while in the gap, which hits a beneficiary once
total drug expenditures reach $3,450 and lasts until out-of-pocket expenses
reach $5,300.
The report also discloses that more than 800,000 seniors’ expenses would
never reach that upper threshold, meaning they would get no benefits for the
remainder of the year while they continued having a premium deducted from the
Social Security check.
"This is unconscionable and unacceptable," said Senator Bob Graham,
D-Florida, who appeared at a press conference with a group of his colleagues who
are co-sponsors of his competing prescription drug benefit plan, S. 2625.
Graham offered his bill on the Senate floor today as an amendment to a
pending bill designed to make generic drugs more widely available. It is being
supported by AARP and other organizations that speak for seniors.
Graham’s plan offers drug coverage for a $25 per month premium with no
deductible and a simple co-payment system of $10 per generic drug and $40 per
medically necessary brand-name medicine. Beneficiaries would pay no more than
$4,000 per year. And additional assistance would be available for the one-third
of seniors who qualify as low income.
"We have no gaps, no gimmicks and no gotchas," Graham said. "This plan
mirrors what seniors had during their working years.
A copy of the Florida-specific portion of the report on the Senate GOP
bill is available at by clicking here
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