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Indianapolis, Indiana
United States
Indianapolis, Indiana
United States
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"What we do, we do for all." -- AARP Founder Ethel Percy Andrus
"What we do, we do for all." -- AARP Founder Ethel Percy Andrus
Seven Deadly Myths of Health Care ReformBipartisan Vote Protects Seniors from Medicare Premium Hike
Contact: Martin DeAgostino For Immediate Release
(317) 423-7105 Sept. 25, 2009
mdeagostino@aarp.org
Bipartisan House Vote Protects Seniors from Medicare Premium Hike
Action will offset loss of Social Security COLA
AARP applauds Congress for its strong bipartisan vote this week to hold Medicare premiums stable for all beneficiaries next year.
The House of Representatives on Thursday passed the Medicare Premium Fairness Act (HR 3631) by a vote of 406 to 18.
The action will help offset an earlier government decision to withhold cost-of-living (COLA) increases from Social Security checks next year.
“As health care costs continue to soar despite lower inflation throughout the economy, older Americans are hit particularly hard,” AARP Executive Vice President Nancy LeaMond said. “Retirees have seen their savings wiped away by market losses while their health care bills continue to climb. People in Medicare today spend nearly a third of their income on health care. The lack of a cost-of-living update in Social Security means that millions more in Medicare could see their health care costs rise further out of reach.
“By holding Medicare premiums steady for all beneficiaries for the next year —premiums that have doubled since 2000 — this bill will help ensure that health care is more affordable for people in Medicare — without burdening taxpayers or future generations with new spending,” LeaMond said.
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