September 24, 2009

Medicare Premium Fairness Act Passes the House

Washington, DC -- Today, Congressman Ben Ray Luján voted for the Medicare Premium Fairness Act, which protect seniors from increases in their 2010 Medicare Part B premiums. There are 42 million seniors and people with disabilities currently enrolled in Medicare Part B. Of those enrollees, 11 million are facing increases in their 2010 Medicare Part B premiums under current law. Medicare Part B covers physician and outpatient care and is deducted from Social Security checks. The Medicare Premium Fairness Act passed the House by a vote of 406 to 18.

“At a time of financial difficulty, it is important to protect seniors who face an increase in Medicare premiums,” said Rep. Luján. “This piece of legislation will protect seniors in New Mexico from a tough increase in Medicare Plan B premiums in 2010.”

Under current law and without congressional action, 27 percent of Medicare enrollees will see their Part B premiums increase, from $96 per month to $110-120 per month, because Part B premiums are required by law to cover 25 percent of Medicare Part B’s costs. The Medicare Premium Fairness Act would extend the “hold harmless” policy to protect all Medicare enrollees from an increase larger than the Social Security COLA, so that the 2010 Part B premiums will remain at $96.40 and no seniors will see a cut in their Social Security checks.