Medicare Means Testing
Medicare Part B
The increases in the Medicare Part B premium, as well as the rise in the Medicare deductible, are two additional issues of grave concern to our members and supporters. In some cases, the increase in these two items comes close to offsetting the Social Security COLA.
In addition, many seniors have been subjected to the means, or asset, test for their Part B premiums since 2007. TSCL was very disappointed when the health care reform legislation even froze the income levels subject to the means test for the next ten years. If these levels do not rise with inflation, more and more seniors will be subjected to these increased costs.
TSCL supports eliminating the “means test.” Seniors should not be punished for attempting to plan for their retirement. We will continue to listen to our members and supporters to learn how these increased costs are affecting their standard of living.
In addition, TSCL feels that Congress should consider a long-term solution to the so-called “doc-fix.” Short term fixes and emergency action have proven to be ineffective, have placed questions on Medicare’s financing, and above all, have threatened Medicare beneficiaries’ access to quality health care.