Since 1965, Medicare has ensured guaranteed health care benefits for older adults and people with disabilities. As policymakers grapple with how to reduce the nation’s deficit, many are looking to Medicare for savings. Unfortunately, some of the most discussed Medicare proposals share a common theme: forcing people with Medicare to pay more for less health security.
Some proposals would increase costs for beneficiaries who purchase Medigap plans–a widely used form of supplemental insurance to Medicare. Some proposals would add a surcharge (or tax) to Medigap premiums. Other plans would eliminate or discourage first dollar coverage under Medigap plans – meaning people would pay a larger share of health care costs through increased deductibles, coinsurance and/or co-pays…
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Any changes to the Medicare program must aim for healthier people, better care, and smarter spending—not paying more for less. As policymakers debate the future of health care, we will provide our insights here.
Thinking ahead to Medicare's future, it’s important to modernize benefits and pursue changes that improve how people with Medicare navigate their coverage on a daily basis. Here are our evolving 30 policy goals for Medicare’s future.
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