Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson today spoke at the National Press Club.  United Press International Reported that Thompson stated that the legislation “is a good first step that will help millions of low-income seniors pay for drugs…” 

Schakowsky said, “Nearly 10 million Medicare beneficiaries will actually be worse off under the bill, either paying more for their health care or being dropped by their employers from a superior drug.”

The Republican bill:
 

• Forces 6 million low-income seniors who get additional assistance from Medicaid to pay more for their prescriptions; imposes an unfair assets test that disqualifies seniors if they have modest savings.  (Office of the Democratic Leader)

• 103,950 Medicare beneficiaries in Illinois will lose their retiree health benefits. (Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Minority Staff)

• 169,500 Medicaid beneficiaries in Illinois will pay more for the prescription drugs they need. (Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Minority Staff)