Despite party affiliation, Weiner’s design for healthcare reform differs from the one Obama has proposed. Instead of supporting a government-operated public-option plan that would compete with private insurance companies, Weiner would like to do away with private insurers altogether and replace them with a single-payer healthcare system that most seniors know like the back of their hand — Medicare.
   “Medicare is even bigger than Walmart,” he said. “If Walmart can negotiate with pharmaceutical companies, Medicare can do better.”
   Under Weiner’s plan, those companies that already have a relationship with a private insurer would have at least another five years to continue offering that plan to their employees before switching to Medicare. Most dental care would still not be included in the plan, nor would assisted living, though Weiner said those topics would have to be revisited in the future.
   The congressman pointed to inflated private insurance company costs as the reason behind the high prices of everything from cars to groceries. He also said the “single biggest reason” why people are losing jobs in the United States is because of healthcare costs.
   “That has to stop,” he said, later adding that it would be beneficial for the healthcare system to mimic that of Social Security, with one generation helping to fund a plan that works for another generation.
   Weiner was briefly joined by Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park), who commended the representative and his administration for taking action on a serious issue, even though he said he respectfully disagrees on how the country should proceed in the matter.
   “The plan doesn’t address long-term or palliative care, which is increasing in demand,” Ulrich said. “There are also unanswered questions: who’s going to benefit from it? Who’s going to pay for it?”
   Some seniors, most of whom didn’t beat around the bush, echoed those sentiments during a question-and-answer session with Weiner.
   “People our age are loaded with drugs and we’re running out of money to pay for it,” one man said. “The prescription drug plan we have today is no good.”
   Weiner agreed, reiterating the need to form a single-payer unit that could demand lower-priced drugs from pharmaceutical companies.
   “Will this happen while we’re still alive?” a woman shouted.
   “It’s kind of now or never,” Weiner replied. “It’s strangling our economy and it’s strangling our budget.”
   As the meeting wrapped up, some seniors flocked to Weiner to ask additional questions, while others seemed satisfied — for now, at least.
   “”It was informative, but there were some things missing, like welfare reform,” said Sylvia Tellerman, 84. The senior said she thought a lot of the funding spent on people who may not deserve it could be used to fund a better healthcare system.
   After approaching Weiner with follow-up questions about his plan, Esther Green said she agreed with many of his aims.
   “I feel everyone should be covered in a big, rich country like the United States,” Green said.