Bush: New Medicare Plan Benefits Seniors

[RedEarth]

MAPLE GROVE, Minn. - President Bush on Friday portrayed the government's new Medicare prescription-drug plan as a great bargain for seniors, but he said that persuading all of them to sign up will be "a massive education assignment."


"It makes people nervous" when they are told to fill out government forms, Bush said. But he said that enrolling for the new benefit is relatively easy, requiring answering 16 simple questions on a four-page form. Democrats, however, argue that the program is overly complex and has large gaps in coverage.

Taking a break from promoting his embattled Social Security restructuring plan, the president expressed concerns that benefits of the new Medicare plan, which takes effect this coming Jan. 1, would not be initially appreciated by many of the 42 million Americans who receive Medicare benefits.

That's why he began his national selling campaign so early, Bush told an invitation-only audience of 300 to 400 people at a community center in this heavily Republican suburb of Minneapolis.

"It's a good deal. This isn't political talk. This is true," Bush said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050617/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush;_ylt=

[Frances]

1. Have any of you looked into the prescription drug benefit?

I did for my mother and the best I could tell you don't benefit unless you have no assets and almost no monthly income. And even then I expect people who were on other programs will wind us worse off.

How does Bush get away with his lies?

Maybe the Post should have Milbank do an article ridiculing those who question Bush on this subject just as he ridiculed Conyers on the DSM.

[HockeyMom]

5. Suffolk County, LI

Out of, oh, maybe, 6-7 million people, Newsday reported a whopping total of SIXTEEN people signed up for the Prescription Drug Benefit at the end of the first week. They went around surveying different pharmacies all over.

No mention of it afterwards. My guess is that * Prescription Drug Plan going over about the same as his Social Security plans.

[Iowa]

2. What a frikin' moron...

You can assume it's crap when he feels the need to "persuade all of them to sign up". If it wasn't worthless they'd be beating down the doors to get it.

[Beetwasher]

3. Great Deal! Fill Out Mounds of Confusing Paperwork, Jump Through Hoops

and end up paying more money anyway! Woo Hoo! Seniors just love that sort of thing!

[Gelliebeans]

4. It's that old

up is down, down is up thingy again. Good rule of thumb, if * likes it then it is probably bad.

[barb162]

8. right, if he tells you it's good, run as fast as you can in the other

direction

[Straight Shooter]

6. It's a "massive education assignment"?

To the tune of Meow Mix:

Lie, lie, lie, lie
Lie, lie, lie, lie
Lie, lie, lie, lie
Lie, lie, lie, lie.

[movonne]

7. LIAR !!! If bush said it is a lie...

[Tracer]

9. I received that form in the mail ...

... and yes, it was as long as a FAFSA form.

A quick glance told me that I'd have to be destitute to be eligible for any benefits, it went directly into the trash.