Sanders to Biden: Cut back looming Medicare premium hike

[Uncle Joe]

(snip)

If Biden agreed and found a way to do it, a planned January increase of $21.60 a month to Medicare's “Part B” premium for outpatient care would be slashed closer to $10. The monthly premium for 2022 would drop from $170.10 to about $159.

Biden's massive social agenda legislation takes significant steps to curb prescription drug costs, but Democrats are running the risk that seniors smarting from one of the biggest increases ever in Medicare premiums will turn against them in the 2022 midterm elections. That increase would claw back a big chunk of next year's Social Security cost-of-living allowance, a boost of about $92 a month for the average retired worker, to help cover rising prices for gas and food.

“Biogen’s $56,000 price of Aduhelm is the poster child for how dysfunctional our prescription drug pricing system has become,” Sanders wrote to Biden. “The notion that one pharmaceutical company can raise the price of one drug so much that it could negatively impact 57 million senior citizens and the future of Medicare is beyond absurd. With Democrats in control of the White House, the House and the Senate we cannot let that happen.” A copy of the letter was provided to The Associated Press.

There was no immediate comment from the White House. Biden is planning a speech Monday on the prescription drug provisions of his legislation, including an annual cap of $2,000 on out-of-pocket costs for Medicare recipients, $35 monthly copays for insulin, inflation rebates that would also help people with private insurance, and the first-ever Medicare-negotiated prices. The catch is that those benefits will phase in over time and the Medicare premium hike would hit after the New Year. It's not clear if Biden will address the premiums.

(snip)

https://news.yahoo.com/sanders-biden-cut-back-looming-180557907.html

[SheltieLover]

1. Agreed!

This will have seniors really angry!

Lose the $56k controversial in-office alzheimers treatment!

[TexasTowelie]

4. Don't forget the PET scan that costs anywhere from $2,500 - $10K before even starting treatment.

The estimate cost to Medicare is estimated to be $29 billion per year if 500,000 start taking the medication. Medicare spends nearly $37 billion on prescription drugs each year.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Supposedly there were more tweaks to SS coming

I think he installed a new SS chief a few months ago. Minimums and asset tests were written as under review. A lot of this stuff hasn't been visited for decades upon decades.

[ShazamIam]

3. Having an increase that is I think larger than the SS increase is not a great idea in an election

year in a nation where a large percentage of voters are on Medicare.

Here is a nice graph, 50% of our voters are 65 and older.



the document:
https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/04/record-high-turnout-in-2020-general-election.html

[Trueblue1968]

5. THIS SUCKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will get a LITTLE, TINY Social Security increase in Jan 2022.

THIS SUCKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I will get a LITTLE, TINY Social Security increase in Jan 2022. My payment for part B of Medicare will TAKE all my increase, plus i'll have to pay $30 MORE a month. Big WHOOP!!!



Thanks Congress who only gives a $hit about RICH people.