Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Medicare Sets Modest Part B Premium Increases For 2017
The Associated Press: Medicare Premium To Rise Modestly For Most Beneficiaries
Medicare has announced the "Part B" premium for 2017, and for most beneficiaries it's a modest increase. Next year's tiny Social Security cost-of-living increase means that about 70 percent of Medicare recipients will be protected from rising medical costs. For this group, the average premium will be about $109 a month. (11/10)
The Wall Street Journal: Medicare Holds Premium Increase For High Earners To 10%
High earners will face a sharply lower increase in Medicare premiums next year than originally projected, as the agency overseeing the government health-care plan said Thursday that it would tap program reserves to ease the burden. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that the monthly premiums for one-third of Medicare beneficiaries will rise by 10% to $134 in 2017, up from $121.80 this year. The remaining 70% of beneficiaries will pay $109.00 in 2017, up from $104.90 this year for Medicare Part B, which covers doctor visits and other types of outpatient care. (Tergesen, 11/10)
