Van Hollen Statement On The Medicare Premium Fairness Act

Statement

Van Hollen Statement On The Medicare Premium Fairness Act

Today Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Assistant to the Speaker, issued the following statement on House passage of the Medicare Premium Fairness Act:

"This critical legislation will ensure that no senior citizen will see a decrease in their Social Security checks due to Medicare Part B premium increases. I am also especially pleased that this bill will protect federal and state government retirees from the harmful Part B premium increases that they would have otherwise incurred.

"During these difficult economic times seniors and cash-strapped states cannot afford this unfair increase, and I commend Congresswoman Dina Titus for her hard work on this important issue. President Obama and Congress are committed to health insurance reform and protecting the Medicare program, and this legislation is an important part of that effort."

BACKGROUND

· The Medicare Premium Fairness Act (H.R. 3631) will protect 11 million seniors and cash-strapped states from unfair increases in their 2010 Medicare Part B premiums.

· These hikes would directly threaten the pocketbooks of 4 million new enrollees and retirees, as well as state budgets, which cover premiums for 7 million low-income seniors. There is no reason this burden should fall on seniors and people with disabilities, especially during difficult economic times.

· Under current law, for nearly three-quarters of Medicare enrollees, their 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. The Social Security COLA is likely to be zero next year because of the recession.

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