September 22, 2005

The Honorable Dennis Kucinich
1730 Longworth House Office Building
Washington , DC 20515

Dear Congressman Kucinich:

On behalf of the 4.6 million members and supporters of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, I am writing to endorse your legislation, H.R. 3800, which would extend Medicaid's Qualifying Individual (QI-1) program until September 30, 2006.

As you know, the QI-1 program currently pays the Medicare Part B premium for 161,000 seniors who do not qualify for Medicaid, yet have limited assets and incomes between 120 percent and 135 percent of the federal poverty line. Unfortunately, this indispensable program is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2005 and participating seniors will no longer receive any help with their premiums.

Just last week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that the Medicare Part B premium will increase to $88.50 a month in 2006. Given that seniors are facing the second largest premium increase (in dollar terms) in the history of the Medicare program, the QI-1 benefit is more important than ever. If this program is allowed to expire, seniors who used to receive QI-1 benefits would now be responsible for an annual Part B premium of $1,062. Premiums of this magnitude could force many low-income seniors to forgo participation in Medicare Part B and go without needed health care.

We applaud you for introducing this legislation and for recognizing that the QI-1 program is essential in ensuring that low-income seniors receive Medicare benefits. We look forward to working with you towards passage of this important legislation. Thank you for your continued leadership on behalf of America 's seniors.

Cordially,