October 7, 2015
By Eric Planin
Under mounting pressure from seniors and labor groups, (click here) congressional leaders and the Obama administration are rushing to find a way to avert a huge Medicare premium increase of 50 percent or more for nearly a third of the 50 million elderly Americans who are reliant on Medicare for their physician care and other health services.
By Eric Planin
Under mounting pressure from seniors and labor groups, (click here) congressional leaders and the Obama administration are rushing to find a way to avert a huge Medicare premium increase of 50 percent or more for nearly a third of the 50 million elderly Americans who are reliant on Medicare for their physician care and other health services.
House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), House Minority
Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and White House officials have been
scrambling behind the scenes to spare millions of seniors the expense of
huge Medicare Part B premium hikes. While the problem pales in
comparison to the larger budget issues, including highway spending and
debt ceiling challenges, lawmakers are super sensitive to the concerns
of seniors heading into the crucial 2016 election year....
The cost of Medicare B is $104 PER MONTH. Many Americans don't realize that. Add to that Medicare supplements or Medicare Advantage costing over $100 per month. So our elderly are paying over $200 per month for their medical insurance ALREADY. That is more than $2400 per year in addition to any deductibles.
The cost of Medicare B is $104 PER MONTH. Many Americans don't realize that. Add to that Medicare supplements or Medicare Advantage costing over $100 per month. So our elderly are paying over $200 per month for their medical insurance ALREADY. That is more than $2400 per year in addition to any deductibles.
An increase in Part B would add $52.00 per month OR MORE to our seniors health care costs. It is inadvisable to drop Part B. So, Seniors are trapped now with higher health care costs. It may very well prove to increase the number of seniors applying for Medicaid. There is no real benefit for the USA by charging more money to Part B.
...Some 70 national organizations,
including AARP, labor groups and health insurance company trade
associations, sent a letter to Republican and Democratic congressional
leaders last week urging prompt action to block or mitigate the looming
premium increases. “Older adults and people with disabilities cannot
shoulder these unprecedented increases,” Joe Baker, president of the
Medicare Rights Center, told The New York Times....
Insurance companies will lose members. I find it interesting.this announcement comes immediately before open enrollment.
Every year, Medicare’s open enrollment period is October 15 - December 7. (click here)
One other thing, if Seniors are forced to pay more for Part B, they will drop their supplements and hospitals will lose income and Seniors may think twice before seeking medical attention.
One other thing, if Seniors are forced to pay more for Part B, they will drop their supplements and hospitals will lose income and Seniors may think twice before seeking medical attention.
