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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Thursday, July 10, 2008
By Larry Lipman
| Thursday, July 10, 2008, 04:05 PM
President Bush intends to veto a Medicare bill that would avert a 10.6 percent pay cut for doctors, a White House spokesman said today.
The statement came a day after the Senate, on its third try, overcame procedural roadblocks set by the Republicans on a 69-30 vote — two more than necessary to override a veto.
Last month, the House passed the bill 355-59, well above the two-thirds margin needed for an override.
White House spokesman Tony Fratto told reporters at the daily noon briefing that Bush would veto the bill because he objected to the way Congress paid for averting the physician pay cut.
The bill would reduce payments to private managed care Medicare Advantage plans by nearly $14 billion over five years. Bush has previously opposed cuts in Medicare Advantage payments although the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission has repeatedly said the plans are overpaid.
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