Basic Differences in Rival Proposals on Drug Coverage

It is very difficult for the average

Medicare beneficiary to sit down with

the Bush and Gore plans and compare

how much she would pay in premiums

and co-payments and how much she

would receive in benefits. That is

because the approaches of the two

candidates are so different, and there

are so many unknowns about Gov.

George W. Bush’s plan.

Given what is known, many analysts and consumer advocates

consider Vice President Al Gore’s plan to be more generous;

he would devote much more money to it, they note, and he

promises a higher federal subsidy for premiums. Mr. Bush’s

health care advisers counter that his plan offers more

flexibility and more choices for older Americans. New York Times