Medicare Monitor
The Palm Beach Post's veteran Washington correspondent, Larry Lipman, tracks policy makers and interest groups who are shaping the future of the federal health insurance program for the elderly.
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Medicare at a glance
Medicare is the federal health care system that covers about 36 million people age 65 and older, plus 7 million disabled. It has four parts:
Part A
Covers inpatient hospital care as well as nursing home, home health and hospice care. Nearly all elderly and disabled Americans qualify for Part A coverage.
Financed by a 2.9 percent payroll tax divided equally between employees and employers.
Part B
Covers outpatient care, doctor’s services, durable medical equipment, home health visits and preventive care. Part B coverage is voluntary, but roughly 40 million are enrolled.
Financed by beneficiary premiums and federal general revenue. Current monthly premiums are $93.50. Starting this year, individuals whose taxable income is more than $80,000 will pay a higher premium.
Part C
Medicare Advantage managed care plans provide health care normally covered by Medicare Parts A and B. They may also provide some other benefits, including prescription drugs, not covered by traditional Medicare. Oart C is voluntary; about 7 million beneficiaries are enrolled.
Financed by Medicare and beneficiary premiums, which vary among plans.
Part D
Medicare prescription drug plans come in two types, those that just cover prescription drugs and those that cover drugs as part of a broader managed care benefit. Part D is voluntary. About 9.2 million beneficiaries are in stand-alone drug plans and about 5.1 million are in managed care drug plans.
The plans are private and financed by Medicare and beneficiary premiums, which vary among plans.
-- Larry Lipman
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Monday, July 7, 2008
By Larry Lipman
| Monday, July 7, 2008, 02:26 PM
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus just told reporters he has a “gut sense there is some wiggle room,” regarding President Bush’s threat to veto the House-passed Medicare bill that would avert a 10.6 percent physician pay cut.
Baucus acknowledged he has not had any communications with the White House which would indicate that Bush would not follow through on the threat, but the senator said he would not describe the threat as “Shermanesque,” — there was “some daylight.”
Since the Senate came up one vote short of the 60 needed for cloture before it recessed two weeks ago, Baucus said he’s received indications from some GOP senators that they might change their vote if there is another cloture vote, possibly Wednesday or Thursday. But Baucus wouldn’t say which senators have indicated they might switch.
Baucus said the president may be dissuaded from vetoing the bill depending on the size of the vote. The House passed the bill with a 355-59 veto-proof margin last month.
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