Cleburne Times-Review, Cleburne, TX

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September 28, 2009

Medicare bill passes House

Edwards supports act

Special to the Times-Review

The Medicare Premium Fairness Act passed the U.S. House by a 406-18 vote on Thursday and has been sent to the Senate for consideration.

The bill will protect 11 million seniors and cash-strapped states from unfair Medicare Part B premium increases from $96 per month to $120 per month in 2010, said U.S. Chet Edwards, D-Waco.

“There is no reason this burden should fall on seniors and people with disabilities, especially during difficult economic times. I hope the Senate will quickly pass this bill and send it to the president for his signature,” Edwards said.

The AARP, in a letter to members of Congress, urged support for the legislation.

“The lack of a cost-of-living update in Social Security means that millions more in Medicare could see their health care costs rise farther out of reach,” according to the letter. “By holding Medicare premiums steady for all beneficiaries for the next year, premiums that have doubled since 2000, this bill would help ensure that health care is more affordable for people in Medicare.”

The bill will protect all Medicare enrollees from an increase larger than the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment, which is likely to be zero next year because of the recession, Edwards said.

Doing so will enable the 2010 Part B premiums to remain at $96.40, and no seniors will see a cut in their Social Security checks.

Under current law, for nearly three quarters of Medicare enrollees the Medicare Part B premium, which covers physician and outpatient care and is deducted from Social Security checks, cannot increase more than the cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security.

Without congressional action, the other 27 percent of enrollees will see their Part B premium increase from $96 per month to $110 to $120 per month because Part B premiums are required by law to cover 25 percent of Medicare Part B’s costs.

The bill will not add to the deficit, Edwards said.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill’s cost at $2.8 billion for 2010, which is fully paid for and meets PAY-GO budget requirements using financing from the Medicare Improvement Fund, which was established a few years ago to be available for the secretary to make improvements to part A and B benefits, Edwards said.

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Medicare bill passes House
by Special to the Times-Review , , Mon Sep 28, 2009, 01:29 PM CDT
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