CBO Examines Health Insurance Regulation Bill; Medicare Q&A Column Addresses Low-Income Assistance for Drug Benefit

• "S 1955: Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act of 2006," Congressional Budget Office: A CBO budget estimate examines a Senate bill (S 1955) that would create national standards for regulating and administering health insurance and pre-empt state laws governing insurance regulation and administration. According to CBO, the bill would increase federal revenue from payroll and income taxes; would reduce net federal Medicaid spending; and would expand the interaction of HHS and the Department of Labor in overseeing health insurers. The CBO estimate also notes that the increase in federal revenue would result from a reduction in total spending on employer-sponsored health insurance and would reduce the portion of worker compensation that is tax-advantaged (CBO, "S 1955: Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act of 2006," 5/3).
  
  
• Kaiser Medicare Q&A Column, Kaiser Family Foundation/Knight Ridder/Tribune News: This week's column, prepared by the Kaiser Family Foundation and distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune, addresses whether beneficiaries whose only income is from a Social Security check and who have some savings will qualify for extra assistance under the Medicare prescription drug benefit. According to the column, to qualify for additional assistance, individuals must have an annual income less than $15,000 and less than $11,500 in resources -- including stocks, bonds, checking and savings accounts, and retirement accounts. If beneficiaries believe there is a chance they qualify for low-income assistance, it is a good idea to apply by contacting the Social Security Administration or their state Medicaid office, the column says (Kaiser Medicare Q&A column, 5/4).