HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today issued a new report, America’s Seniors and Health Insurance Reform: Protecting Coverage and Strengthening Medicare. The report highlights the problems with the status quo that leave seniors paying escalating costs for their health care while outlining how health insurance reform will strengthen Medicare and protect coverage for seniors. The report is available at www.HealthReform.gov.
“Senior citizens have seen their premiums and out-of-pocket drug costs rise and without reform, many seniors on Medicare could lose access to the doctor they know and trust,” Secretary Sebelius said. “Health insurance reform will protect the coverage seniors depend on, improve the quality of care and help make Medicare strong.”
The report highlights current problems in the status quo and the solutions health insurance reform will provide, including:
Overpayments to Private Plans: A typical older couple in traditional Medicare will pay almost $90 next year on average to subsidize private insurance companies who are not providing their health benefits. Health insurance reform will eliminate these overpayments.
High Prescription Drug Prices: Health insurance reform will cut the drug costs that seniors have to bear in the “doughnut hole” by 50 percent.