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Monthly Archives: March 2017

Older Adults Among Those Hardest Hit by the American Health Care Act

Earlier this week, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its highly anticipated analysis of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) and what its passage would mean for American families. The CBO estimate confirms our worst fears—24 million people would lose health coverage over the next decade.

The report affirms that older adults will be among those hardest hit by the proposal. If the AHCA becomes law, the number of uninsured would increase most significantly among low-income Americans ages 50 to 64.

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Medicare Rights Comments on Proposed Changes to MA and Part D in 2018

This week, the Medicare Rights Center (Medicare Rights) submitted comments in response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 2018 Advance Rate Notice and Draft Call Letter (2018 Call Letter). CMS announces proposed changes to the Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D programs through a yearly call letter, and every year Medicare Rights provides feedback to the agency on proposals we support and where we have concerns.

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Relief Opportunity Announced for Marketplace Enrollees Who Need Medicare

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced a time-limited opportunity allowing Medicare-eligible people who were or are currently enrolled in the Affordable Care Act’s Marketplaces to enroll in Medicare Part B and to be relieved of any associated late enrollment penalties.

This chance to request equitable relief is welcome news for Marketplace enrollees who wrongly delayed or declined Medicare Part B enrollment. The relief may include retroactive or immediate Medicare Part B enrollment and a reduction in or elimination of Medicare Part B late enrollment penalties. People who were or are enrolled in Marketplace coverage and who are entitled to premium-free Medicare Part A can apply for this relief through September 2017.

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Medicare Rights Tells Congress: We Cannot Support the American Health Care Act

Earlier this week, Congressional Republicans unveiled their plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), known as the American Health Care Act (AHCA). Only two day later, the bill was debated and voted on by the House Committees on Energy & Commerce and Ways & Means. In response, Joe Baker, president of the Medicare Rights Center (Medicare Rights), sent a letter to the Committee leadership explaining why Medicare Rights cannot support the legislation or the process behind it.

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Persistent Challenges for People with Medicare Identified in New Medicare Rights Center Report

Today, the Medicare Rights Center released its annual helpline trends report, which outlines persistent challenges facing people with Medicare heard through thousands of calls to its national consumer helpline.

The report, Medicare Trends and Recommendations: An Analysis of 2015 Call Data from the Medicare Rights Center’s National Helpline, highlights the leading issues heard on Medicare Rights’ helpline. Each issue is demonstrated through consumer stories and accompanied by policy solutions, which the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), state agencies, insurers, elected officials, and others can pursue to improve the Medicare program for the more than 55 million people it serves.

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