Medicare

About 42 million seniors and people with disabilities are enrolled in Medicare Part B and those patients would be spared monthly premium increases next year under a bill passed by the House Thursday. The House voted 406 to 18 to eliminate all premium increases
for Medicare Part B patients. The bill now goes to the Senate. Medicare Part B provides coverage for doctor’s visits. Under the law, the vast majority of Medicare recipients already are exempt from Part B (about two thirds ) premium increases whenever there is no increase in Social Security payments. Still, without congressional action, millions of seniors would face monthly premium increases of $8 to $23. The standard monthly premium is $96.40 this year.
The bill would not affect increases in premiums for the Medicare prescription drug program, known as Part D. Average monthly premiums for the drug program will increase slightly, from $28 this year to $30 in 2010. 2010.
The House bill would eliminate all Part B premium increases, using $2.8 billion in other Medicare funding.