The plan that House Republicans offered to provide prescription drug coverage to seniors relied heavily on private insurance companies. Medicare recipients would pay $33 a month to receive private coverage with a $250 annual deductible. Patients would pay 20 percent of costs between $250 and $1,000, 50 percent of costs between $1,000 and $2,000, and all costs between $2,000 and $3,700. All costs above $3,700 would be paid for in full. Progressives disliked this plan because of the gaps in coverage and because there was no guarantee the private sector would provide the coverage to all seniors who wanted it. Because they opposed the bill, they also opposed the bill's "rule": the set of instructions outlining the procedures for debate. If a bill's rule is voted down, the bill itself cannot be considered. Progressives were joined in opposition by all Democrats, but that was not enough to kill the rule. It passed 218-213.