Join Us Live for a Discussion on Medicare, Democracy, and the Future of Health Care
Medicare provides health coverage to over 67 million older adults and people with disabilities, paying for important medical care in hospital and outpatient settings. Nearly 12.5 million beneficiaries also rely on Medicaid, which helps with affordability through the Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs), and covers services Medicare does not, such as long-term services and supports. The Medicare Rights Center supports strengthening Medicare and Medicaid, modernizing benefits and financial assistance, and bolstering the workers and caregivers who deliver this vital care.
Last month, U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, along
AARP has released a report that investigates the uptake and need for Caregiver Training Services (CTS). CTSs are a new
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) strengthened Medicare and Medicaid and created important coverage avenues and consumer protections for people of all ages. Despite these successes, the health law continues to face opposition from some policy corners in Congress, the states, some presidential administrations, and the courts.
Some policymakers support turning Medicare into a premium support system, also called a defined contribution system or a voucher program. These programs would give people with Medicare a voucher or coupon to purchase health coverage. If the voucher did not cover the full cost—a certainty, given the aim of such programs is to save Medicare dollars—the person would presumably have to pay the rest or go without coverage. Though touted as a cost saver, a hallmark of these policies is to instead shift significant expenses onto consumers.
Medicare is a nearly universal program for people 65 and over, guaranteeing health care for older adults who have paid into the system during their working lives. This ensures that older adults do not have to continue to rely on employer health insurance and can retire at 65 without risking coverage loss. Some policymakers want to delay access to Medicare by raising the eligibility age from 65 to 67 or even 70. This would disproportionately harm people who can least afford it, including people who work in physically demanding jobs and older adults of color.
With the passage of HR 1, Congress is cutting around $1 trillion from Medicaid over the course of the next 10 years. The cuts will affect Medicaid at every level, restricting eligibility and enrollment, driving up the cost of covered services for beneficiaries and states, and damaging the health care system nationwide. These cuts harm the people who rely on the program, including millions of older adults and people with disabilities who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, as well as people nearing Medicare eligibility who have coverage through expansion Medicaid.
Many states have expanded Medicaid coverage and care through Medicaid “Section 1115” waivers, but some states are inclined to move in the opposite direction, to limit eligibility or restrict coverage.
Some policymakers endorse proposals to give Medicare providers the right to charge beneficiaries more for care than is currently allowed, either through balance billing or private contracting. Under these reforms, providers could require their Medicare patients to negotiate a contract for the cost of their care, or simply charge more for Medicare-covered services, leaving those beneficiaries with additional costs on top of their premiums, copayments, and coinsurance.
A core component of Medicare is its universality. Some policy ideas would undermine that promise by limiting benefits to people with lower incomes or requiring higher income enrollees to pay more for their care or coverage.
The Medicare Rights Center (Medicare Rights) appreciates this opportunity to comment on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, HHS
Last month, U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, along
AARP has released a report that investigates the uptake and need for Caregiver Training Services (CTS). CTSs are a new
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) strengthened Medicare and Medicaid and created important coverage avenues and consumer protections for people of all ages. Despite these successes, the health law continues to face opposition from some policy corners in Congress, the states, some presidential administrations, and the courts.
Some policymakers support turning Medicare into a premium support system, also called a defined contribution system or a voucher program. These programs would give people with Medicare a voucher or coupon to purchase health coverage. If the voucher did not cover the full cost—a certainty, given the aim of such programs is to save Medicare dollars—the person would presumably have to pay the rest or go without coverage. Though touted as a cost saver, a hallmark of these policies is to instead shift significant expenses onto consumers.
Medicare is a nearly universal program for people 65 and over, guaranteeing health care for older adults who have paid into the system during their working lives. This ensures that older adults do not have to continue to rely on employer health insurance and can retire at 65 without risking coverage loss. Some policymakers want to delay access to Medicare by raising the eligibility age from 65 to 67 or even 70. This would disproportionately harm people who can least afford it, including people who work in physically demanding jobs and older adults of color.
With the passage of HR 1, Congress is cutting around $1 trillion from Medicaid over the course of the next 10 years. The cuts will affect Medicaid at every level, restricting eligibility and enrollment, driving up the cost of covered services for beneficiaries and states, and damaging the health care system nationwide. These cuts harm the people who rely on the program, including millions of older adults and people with disabilities who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, as well as people nearing Medicare eligibility who have coverage through expansion Medicaid.
Many states have expanded Medicaid coverage and care through Medicaid “Section 1115” waivers, but some states are inclined to move in the opposite direction, to limit eligibility or restrict coverage.
Some policymakers endorse proposals to give Medicare providers the right to charge beneficiaries more for care than is currently allowed, either through balance billing or private contracting. Under these reforms, providers could require their Medicare patients to negotiate a contract for the cost of their care, or simply charge more for Medicare-covered services, leaving those beneficiaries with additional costs on top of their premiums, copayments, and coinsurance.
A core component of Medicare is its universality. Some policy ideas would undermine that promise by limiting benefits to people with lower incomes or requiring higher income enrollees to pay more for their care or coverage.
The Medicare Rights Center (Medicare Rights) appreciates this opportunity to comment on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, HHS
