U.S. REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS VOTES TO PROTECT MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES

Legislation prevents seniors and people with disabilities from unfair Medicare Part B premium increases

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today voted with a strong bipartisan majority in the House to protect seniors and people with disabilities from unfair increases in their 2010 Medicare Part B premiums.

“Rising premiums are a threat to Arizona seniors and people with disabilities because they limit access to preventive health care at an affordable price,” said Giffords. “This legislation will reduce that threat and it could not come at a better time.”

The Medicare Premium Fairness Act, H.R. 3631, passed the House this morning in a 406 to 18 vote. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Because of automatic provisions built into the current Medicare law, more than a quarter of the 42 million people enrolled in Medicare Part B are due to see their premiums rise next year. The increases are expected to raise the current premium of $96.40 to between $110 and $120 per month. The increase would impose a burden on states, which are obligated to pay premiums for many low-income seniors.

To alleviate this unfair financial burden, The Medicare Premium Fairness Act will keep Part B premiums at the current rate.

The bill was supported by numerous organizations in Arizona and across the country, including AARP, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, the Center for Medicare Advocacy, Alliance for Retired Americans and the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association.

Passage of the bill was welcomed in Southeastern Arizona by the Pima Council on Aging and the SouthEastern Arizona Governments Organization (SEAGO) Area Agency on Aging.

“Hats off to Representative Giffords and those who supported H.R. 3631,” said Jim Murphy, president and CEO of the Pima Council on Aging. “Particularly in this time of economic stress, the majority of individuals who are on Medicare are also on fixed incomes without the ability to offset rising medical and other costs. With no increase in Social Security benefits planned for these same individuals, keeping Medicare Part B premiums level is the least we can do for those who have contributed significantly all their lives and now need a little support.”

Murphy’s sentiments were echoed by Kathleen Heard, director of the SEAGO Area Agency on Aging.

“The impact on state budgets whose Medicaid programs would have to pay the increase in Part B premiums for those in the Medicare Savings Program is significant,” Heard said. “In addition, the cost to individual Medicare beneficiaries who have lost their Low Income Subsidy or who are new to Medicare will be significant. Legislation that protects state Medicare programs and individual Medicare beneficiaries from these increases makes sense.”