Clinton to release Medicare analysis

By Major Garrett/CNN

February 28, 2000
Web posted at: 6:17 p.m. EST (2317 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN)-- President Clinton Tuesday will release a new state-by-state analysis of Medicare designed to increase public support for his prescription drug plan.

"About three in five Medicare beneficiaries do not have dependable drug coverage," states the report, the first-ever state-by-state analysis of Medicare's reach.

"In addition, most seniors are middle income and would not benefit from a low-income prescription drug benefit."

The president has proposed a new, optional prescription drug plan for Medicare's 38 million beneficiaries. The Clinton plan is not means-tested, meaning there would be no income limit on eligibility. Republicans prefer a smaller plan that would target low-income Medicare beneficiaries.

The report provides a state-by-state breakdown of the cost of supplemental health insurance, Medigap coverage, and access to drug coverage through managed care.

Taken together, these statistics reveal the general scarcity of options seniors have when attempting to pay for prescription drugs.

The report will also reveal the number of Medicare beneficiaries in each state who fall into the following categories: Women, the disabled, people 85 years or older and those who live in rural areas with limited HMO coverage.

Also, the report predicts that Medicare enrollment will rise by nearly 45 percent in 25 years, increasing from 35 million now to 62 million in 2025.

The report does not attempt to calculate the annual cost of the Clinton's prescription drug plan.

Most Republicans and some moderate Democrats fear would Clinton's plan would be too costly to sustain as the number of Medicare beneficiaries increases.