Washington, D.C. – Rep. Heath Shuler voted for legislation on Thursday to prevent Medicare premiums from rising next year for more than 10 million seniors nationwide.
The House approved the bill, 406-18, to freeze the current rate for premiums for all seniors. Without the legislation, more than a quarter of the 42 million seniors enrolled in Medicare Part B would see their monthly premiums jump as much as 20 percent because of automatic provisions built into the law. The bill would cost $2.8 billion but is paid for by reducing Medicare Improvement Fund.
The Medicare increase would place a greater burden on state budgets next year because they are obligated to pay for Medicare Part B premiums for low-income seniors. Unless the Senate also approves the legislation, the Medicare Part B premium for some seniors would rise from $96.40 a month to $110 to $120 a month.
“I support protecting seniors in Western North Carolina from such a large Medicare increase,” said Rep. Shuler, D-Waynesville.
“Seniors already face tighter household budgets next year because they will not receive cost-of-living adjustments to their Social Security payments,” he said. “Raising Medicare premiums at the same time would be an unacceptable one-two punch.”
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