John Rother Quotations

Shifting to private investment wouldn't be easy. A whole generation would have to pay twice -- saving for themselves while paying benefits to those retired under the old system.

Of course, these trends are playing out differently across the states. Florida, for example, has already experienced a demographic wave that illustrates the need for timely changes in state programs.

Right now, it seems to be relatively quiet. For people (who are enrolled in the program), it's actually working.

If only 20 percent or even 30 percent of seniors sign up, that is every negative for the future of the program because the people most likely to sign up are the people with high drug expenses, and you don't have insurance if you don't spread the risk among people who are healthy.

What we find is that these price increases are pretty much across the board -- it doesn't seem to make much difference what category of drug is involved or what manufacturer. Obviously, those people that are chronically ill, and particularly those who suffer from more than one chronic illness, they are getting hit pretty hard.

I think the industry is more concerned about shareholders than they are about the patients who take the pills.

State and federal policymakers should seize the rare opportunity afforded by positive demographic, socioeconomic, and health trends to make essential changes in the nation's long term care programs.

It doesn't seem at this point that there's likely to be legislation moving on to the president. I think our job is mostly done.

That was a real surprise. Generic drug prices have been kept down substantially compared to previous years. I'm not sure I can explain that, but it's certainly good news for consumers and more reason than ever to switch to a generic drug if you have that option.

We do have overall growth. But it's not translating into family income. The haves are getting richer and ordinary people are seeing their wage gains go to rising health-care costs.

We really need to think about four pillars for retirement. ... The first pillar is Social Security. The second is individual pensions or savings. The third is health insurance, very important. And the fourth, surprisingly, is the continued ability to earn, because many people are going to need to find some way of bringing in earnings after they pass normal retirement age, and we think that that should be more and more emphasized in terms of getting ready for that possibility.

We really need to think about four pillars for retirement.

We really believe this coverage is going to save lives.

We just wish the same kind of self-restraint could be true for the makers of brand-name drugs.

We're putting a spotlight on what manufacturers are charging, which is by far the most significant part of the price equation.

This was a program enacted as part of a very high-profile, partisan controversy, ... And the other thing is, the benefit is not what people had hoped to see.

What happened was the debate got polarized very early and the opportunity to find the middle ground was missed.

Even if we're extraordinarily successful ... at keeping the per capita costs limited, there has to be some way to finance care for that many people.

Drug prices are going up faster than inflation and we need to do more to keep them affordable.

There's no need to rush in, but most people will probably be better off getting the coverage than not joining up.

The report, while being good news for many, also points out that if the issues of the growing and aging population's future long term care needs, are not addressed today, the choices will be limited to the wealthy and highly educated. Access to choices for the population at large will be restricted to those who can afford alternatives to nursing homes such as assisted living or home and community based services. Any changes must extend the benefits of improved health and increased choice to those who have been left out thus far.

Assisted living is becoming so popular that everyone's kind of changing the sign on their door, no matter what they provide. We thought it was important to create a clear standard ... so that hopefully the label of assisted living won't be used in a way to mislead people.

It's moving in the right direction. I will say that. But this is the sixth year in a row of price increases that are at least twice the rate of inflation, so it has a cumulative effect that I think is pretty serious.

Economists are reporting a growing economy. But AARP has found that real family income has not increased since the late 1990s for mid-life and older Americans, and over the last year family income for the age group has declined.

Still, none of these discount programs can counteract the full impact of these price increases. Even with the discounts, these prices are hurting people.

the middle 50 percent we can hope they'll be OK if things go right.

I'm cautiously optimistic. I think we can see a path to a bipartisan bill.

I remember quite distinctly her coming to me quite agitated, emotionally distressed, and at that point confided to me that she had indeed been beaten by her husband and that she had decided to leave the marriage.

Clearly, the COLA is not going to be enough to offset these higher costs, particularly in heating,

These prices are reflected in higher premiums as well as higher out-of-pocket costs at the pharmacy.