In the depression the elderly were quite dependent on their sons and daughters, and their sons
and daughters were out of jobs.
And the principal problem was medical care costs, not that people couldn't get good care
but it was that they could not afford the hospital costs.
There wasn't much of an argument about the need, the argument was what to do about it.
They thought it would help the elderly people in the south but what happened was only 32
states had adopted it.
And what we showed very clearly was only half the aged had coverage and most of it was very,
very poor coverage.
Our older people are three times as often to be hospitalized, but their income is less
than half that of people under 65.
One of the traditional methods of imposing socialism has been by way of medicine. It's
very easy to disguise a medical program as a humanitarian project.
We wanted the world to know that we haven't forgotten who is the real daddy of Medicare.
The social security district offices were kept open into the evening for people who
were still at work.
I will submit legislation shortly to help free the elderly from the fear of catastrophic
illness.
He's supposed to represent the people, not himself! [Unintelligible yelling].
Once seniors' annual drug costs exceed $2250 they fall into the so called 'doughnut hole.'
Now that the plan is in place, 39 million have signed up for it, drug costs are less
than anticipated.
We are done here [applause].
Beginning next year, preventive care including annual physicals, wellness exams and tests
like mammograms will be free for seniors as well.
A lot of care was given, that would have never been given, if it hadn't been for Medicare.