Democrats on Medicare:

• Democrats have traditionally favored more comprehensive prescription drug coverage than Republicans.
• Their plans have tended to expand the current Medicare system to include a drug benefit, instead of relying on the private sector to provide the insurance.
• Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota wrote an open letter to Mr. Bush in December 2002 opposing any efforts to encourage seniors to join HMOs in order to get drug coverage.
• Daschle's Web site says the Democratic agenda for the 108th Congress will include a proposal to offer more generous prescription coverage than the bill House Republicans passed in 2002.
• House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, speaking in opposition to the Republican bill that passed the House in 2002, said her party supported making prescription drug coverage an "entitlement under Medicare."
• Some Democrats have backed more sweeping reforms to Medicare. Sen. John Breaux of Louisiana has introduced legislation with Republican leader Sen. Bill Frist of Tennessee that would have expanded the private sector's role in Medicare.
• Breaux also co-sponsored a "tri-partisan" bill with independent Jim Jeffords of Vermont and Republicans Charles Grassley of Iowa, Olympia Snowe of Maine and Orrin Hatch of Utah. Under the plan, the government would subsidize prescription drug coverage provided by private prescription benefit managers. The co-sponsors of this bill plan to bring it up again during the 108th congressional session.

Online NewsHour Special Report:
Prescription Drug Coverage

July 22, 2002:
Susan Dentzer investigates efforts to control health care costs.

June 7, 2002:
Tom Bearden reports on many doctors' growing reluctance to treat Medicare patients.

July 7, 2002:
Paul Solman looks at the rising amount spent on health care and weighs the pros and cons of new medical technologies.