House panels kick off hearings on slowing Medicare, social security spending

Among the proposals that will be discussed and debated are increasing Medicare premiums for higher-income seniors and raising the program's eligibility age. Meanwhile, Politico details the health industry gains and losses likely to stem from President Barack Obama's budget plan, which was released last week.

The Washington Post: Republicans Embrace Obama's Offer To Trim Social Security Benefits
This week, two House subcommittees plan to hold hearings on "reforms to protect and preserve" programs for retirees, starting with Obama's proposal to apply a less generous measure of inflation to annual increases in Social Security benefits. Also on the table are higher Medicare premiums and reduced benefits for better-off seniors, and a higher Medicare eligibility age (Montgomery, 4/15).

Politico: President Obama's Budget: Impact On Health Care
The health care sector saw some huge gains and losses in last week's White House budget presented by President Barack Obama. It will not pass the Congress or become law, but the document underscores White House priorities. And if grand bargain negotiations resume this year, the document could become the floor, exciting some health players and making others nervous (Haberkorn and Norman, 4/16).


http://www.kaiserhealthnews.orgThis article was reprinted from kaiserhealthnews.org with permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent news service, is a program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan health care policy research organization unaffiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

 

Comments

  1. Diana Mendoza Diana Mendoza United States says:

    I cannot believe you want to take seniors on a fixed income and raise the Medicare Premium.  It is not like those in a higher bracket got more than 12-20.00 more for 2013.  The premium is already higher than it should be, We did pay into that tax system when be busted our A$$ for 65years.  The Premium is over 100.00 per month with copays of 20% of the charges.   What will happen next?   Will you deny us if we become so ill we surprass a Cap?   Will our physicians turn us away because it is not profitable to care for a Medicare patient?   They are already doing that.  Let me advise you that many physicians are urging patients to opt put of Medicare advantage plan, since they get a monthly flat fee per patient to be seen as often as needed, this includes every day and hospital visits, they will receive about 133.00 per month, per patient assigned to them on a Medicare Advantage plan.  If we opt out and use Medicare only, Medicare will have tot pay them for each and every visit, this could quadruple their income, I think it is a great idea.   Doctor's have the option to waive or reduce the 20% copay but cannot waive the yearly deductible of 133.00.  I would be willing to pay the deductible and have my copay reduced.  SInce I am on a fixed income, and live in senior subsidized housing, I have no assets to be attached.   I would gladly stay with Meicare only and a chep Part D plan if it menat I could retain the doctor I so love and they would be moe willing to make hospital visits or additional appointments, I could choose from a cadre of physicians who are leaningthis way.  As a retired Nurse Practitioner, my choices will be opened to a better class of physician.  Medicare cannot deny you this choice, it is your right.  MY suggestion is you think this over carefully, those of us who are retired from the Medical field are entertaining this option.   We get what is called professional courtesy.   Think carefully all you politicians, the baby boomers are staging a revolution.

The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of News Medical.
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