THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE TO PRESERVE SOCIAL SECURITY & MEDICARE
~ Trusted ~ Independent ~ Effective ~
February 13, 2012
NEWS RELEASE
“While the President’s budget offers a balanced approach addressing revenue and spending, his plan shifts even more costs to seniors in Medicare through increased means-testing, premium hikes and co-pays. The real cost driver is not Medicare, as some have claimed, but rising healthcare costs system-wide. We need to tackle the true problem, not just pass more costs on to seniors. That’s why the National Committee supported health care reform as the best way to bring spending under control. We should be expanding on the progress made since the Affordable Care Act became law rather than finding new ways to send seniors the budget bill.
While some tout increasing means testing in Medicare as a way to insure ‘rich’ seniors pay their share, the truth is, the middle-class will take this hit too. Medicare has already been means tested since 2007 and the number of beneficiaries subject to higher premiums is already increasing. Proposals that target even more Medicare beneficiaries for increasing premiums will ultimately impact beneficiaries with modest incomes.” Max Richtman, President and CEO
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The National Committee, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization acts in the interests of its membership through advocacy, education, services, grassroots efforts and the leadership of the Board of Directors and professional staff. The work of the National Committee is directed toward developing better-informed citizens and voters.