Medicare Part B premiums are a case in point.  In the past five years Medicare premiums have increased from $54 per month in 2002 to $88.50 per month in 2006.  Without changes, however, the rate of increase will get much worse starting next year.

In 2007, for the first time in the history of Medicare, the government will determine premiums by a person's income. 

This radically changes one of the founding principles of the program — equality of benefits.  Since 1965, Medicare has always provided the same hospital and doctor's benefits to all beneficiaries and charged everyone at the same rate.  This principle of equality in Medicare benefits will end on December 31, 2006 as mandated by the 2003 Medicare prescription drug legislation. 

Depending on income, seniors could pay from $100 to $173 per month for their Part B drug coverage in 2007, and more than $129 to $413 [confirm these 3/25] per month in three years.  President Bush has proposed removing the annual inflation adjustment.  By doing so, more and more seniors over the years would be subjected to higher premiums.  In addition, with looming deficits, Congress could be under pressure again to lower the income levels and increase premiums at any time.

Especially disturbing, however, is the fact that means testing (sometimes referred to as "income relating") of the Part B premium was never a part of the original version of the 2003 Medicare legislation passed by our elected lawmakers in the House and Senate, but inserted into legislation at the final stages of negotiation, behind tightly closed doors. 

It's time we put an end to the practice of "closed door legislating."  Medicare premiums are already increasing far more rapidly than beneficiaries can afford. Let's contact Members of Congress to protest basing Medicare benefits on one's ability to pay, and tell them to repeal Means Testing of the Part B premium. 

May 2006