host: marsha gold?st: there is a big debate between the parties about the value of private plans and how much we should pay for them. i think both parties probably think there is a reason to have an option for a private plan because it exists otherwise and gives beneficiaries traces. the question is how much to pay for them and how much value they add. republicans tend to think that competition and choice is good so there are not as bothered by paying more for them because they think it will get people there. the democrats are not convinced they are any better or maybe not even as good as traditional medicare and they do not want to pay more. one of the issues of extra benefits is it because medicare has limitations which is why people buy the gap coverage. should we fix the entire medicare program to get better benefits there? agreed -- or do you have to join a private plan to get better benefits? host: democrat from north bergen, new jersey. good morning. thank you for reading. go ahead. caller: i hav

host: marsha gold?st: there is a big debate between the parties about the value of private plans and how much we should pay for them. i think both parties probably think there is a reason to have an option for a private plan because it exists otherwise and gives beneficiaries traces. the question is how much to pay for them and how much value they add. republicans tend to think that competition and choice is good so there are not as bothered by paying more for them because they think it will get people there. the democrats are not convinced they are any better or maybe not even as good as traditional medicare and they do not want to pay more. one of the issues of extra benefits is it because medicare has limitations which is why people buy the gap coverage. should we fix the entire medicare program to get better benefits there? agreed -- or do you have to join a private plan to get better benefits? host: democrat from north bergen, new jersey. good morning. thank you for reading. go ahead. caller: i hav

host: marsha gold, thank you for talking to our viewers. tomorrow, prescription drug program which includes prescription drug coverage, private plans approved and paid for. $58 billion in 2010 funded through general revenue and premiums. that will be the topic for tomorrow to get to new our series looking at medicare. the house is about to come in for a pro forma session. here is this morning's situation out of libya from the associated press. the latest is that there is a fierce street battle going on in parts of tripoli. forces loyal are posted right outside of tripoli and. there is still no word on where colonel gaddafi is. the loyalists will fight back. thank you for watching. we will be back tomorrow. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2011] [captioning made possible by the national captioning institute, inc., in cooperation with the united states house of representatives. any use of the closed-captioned coverage of the house proceedings for political or commercial