Medicare Watch

Health Reform and Medicare

As we go to press, the Senate has voted to pass the Reconciliation bill. The bill now goes back to the House of Representatives for a final vote, which is expected later this evening.

The House had passed an earlier version of the Reconciliation bill on Sunday, but some provisions were removed while it was being considered by the Senate. The House will be voting on this revised version of the Reconciliation bill tonight.

Read Medicare Rights President Joe Baker’s letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, thanking him for his commitment to people with Medicare.

Resources on Medicare and Health Reform

Confused about health reform? Medicare Rights has produced resources that explain how health reform will affect Medicare:

• Questions and Answers on Medicare and Health Reform
• Get the Facts: Health Reform and Medicare (para español oprime aquí)
• Side-by-side Comparison of Health Reform Bills’ Impact on Medicare

Medicare Reminder

On March 23, the Social Security Administration launched a new service that will allow more people to enroll online in Medicare. People who want to enroll in Medicare but want to delay filing for Social Security benefits can now do so online. Read more about the new online application.

Spotlight

After the House passed health reform legislation last weekend, the New York Times published a feature that details how reform will affect Americans. The president of Medicare Rights, Joe Baker, provided comments on what people with Medicare can expect. Read the post here.