Clinton's new Medicare proposal would help senior citizens like Martin, who pays $320 a month for medicine RELATED VIDEO Medicare recipients welcome reform, especially when it comes to prescription drugs. CNN's Jeff Flock takes a look. (June 29) Windows Media 28K 80K  ALSO: Clinton unveils prescription for modernizing Medicare

Medicare plan may herald the era of the elderly

June 29, 1999
Web posted at: 9:02 p.m. EDT (0102 GMT)

By Chicago Bureau Chief Jeff Flock

CHICAGO (CNN) -- Why do some politicians advocate paying for the prescription drugs of the elderly, as outlined in President Clinton's proposal to overhaul the Medicare program?

Some say it's because people living longer means more elderly voters to win over. While senior citizens make up just 12 percent of the current population, they make up a full quarter of voters in presidential elections. That percentage is destined to grow rapidly as the baby boomer generation ages.

"Senior citizens have always been the trophy of all politicians," said 70-year-old political analyst Tom Roeser, who thinks the proposal for a universal prescription drug benefit could be too generous.

"They're courting senior citizens so much, they want to add us all to the gravy train, and I think some of the wealthier of us shouldn't be subsidized," he said.

Roeser is not talking about people like Medicare recipient Eunis Martin, 73. While Medicare subsidizes some of the cost of her prescription medications, Martin herself must pay $320 a month for the drugs, an amount she can barely afford.

She says she votes in every election and, like a lot of seniors, she says she will vote in the future for the political party that shows that it cares.

"I want the one that's going to help the people. That's what we need, somebody that's going to help the people, regardless of what party it is," Martin said.

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