U.S. Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), along with other Democratic senators, unveiled legislation recently to protect Medicare beneficiaries and states from a spike in Part B premiums and deductibles in 2016.
The Protecting Medicare Beneficiaries Act of 2015 would guarantee no Medicare premium or deductible increases in 2016.
“I’m proud to be pushing for legislation that would protect 722,000 Medicare beneficiaries in Washington state, and millions more across the country, from a sharp increase in their health care costs,” Murray said. “Our seniors deserve a health care system that works for them and puts their needs first — and that means they shouldn’t have to worry about a spike in their health care costs next year."
As it now stands, approximately 30 percent of Medicare beneficiaries, or 15 million Americans, could see a 52 percent hike in their monthly premiums as a result of being excluded from a “hold-harmless” policy that occurs in years when there is a zero percent cost-of-living adjustment, meaning they must pay the entire increase in the Part B premiums.
The legislation would stabilize 2016 premiums for the 30 percent group at the 2015 level of $104.90, as well as hold the deductible for all beneficiaries at $147.
