Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Small Increase In Social Security Checks Could Bring Higher Medicare Premiums For Some Seniors
The Hill: Alarm Sounds On Medicare Premium Hikes
The federal government on Tuesday announced a very small cost of living increase for Social Security checks next year, just 0.3 percent. Because of the complex formulas that factor this increase into Medicare, that means that about 30 percent of Medicare beneficiaries could see an increase in their Part B premiums next year. There are calls for Congress to take action to stop the increase, as lawmakers did for a similar situation last year in the budget deal. (Sullivan, 10/18)
Roll Call: Small Social Security Increase Lags Health Costs, Groups Say
The Social Security Administration on Tuesday announced that there will be relatively little change next year in the monthly checks sent to more than 65 million Americans. That prompted protests from seniors’ groups about how this key source of income for many retirees lags rising medical costs. (Young, 10/18)
USA Today: Average Retired Social Security Beneficiary To Get Measly $5 Raise In 2017
Many current Medicare beneficiaries won’t be able to spend any of that extra money. Instead, they’ll likely have to send their COLA straight back to Uncle Sam to cover higher Medicare Part B premiums. Almost a third of Medicare's 56 million beneficiaries could see their premiums jump 22% next year, according to the Medicare Trustees Report, putting the cost at an estimated $149 per month. Those unlucky 30% of beneficiaries include people enrolling in Part B for the first time in 2017, people who are on Medicare but who aren't currently taking Social Security benefits and current enrollees who pay an income-related higher premium. (Powell, 10/18)
The Wall Street Journal: Medicare Spent $359 Million On Unnecessary Chiropractic Care In 2013, Audit Finds
More than 80% of the money that Medicare paid to chiropractors in 2013 went for medically unnecessary procedures, a new federal audit found. The federal insurance program for senior citizens spent roughly $359 million on unnecessary chiropractic care that year for treatment of strains, sprains or joint conditions, a review by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General found. (Evans, 10/19)
