Medicare Monitor
The Palm Beach Post's veteran Washington correspondent, Larry Lipman, tracks policy makers and interest groups who are shaping the future of the federal health insurance program for the elderly.Medicare Web Resources
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Medicare at a glance
Medicare is the federal health care system that covers about 36 million people age 65 and older, plus 7 million disabled. It has four parts:
Financed by a 2.9 percent payroll tax divided equally between employees and employers.
Financed by beneficiary premiums and federal general revenue. Current monthly premiums are $93.50. Starting this year, individuals whose taxable income is more than $80,000 will pay a higher premium.
Financed by Medicare and beneficiary premiums, which vary among plans.
The plans are private and financed by Medicare and beneficiary premiums, which vary among plans.
-- Larry Lipman
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All the entries posted on April 28, 2008.
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Home > Medicare Monitor > Archives > 2008 > April > 28
Monday, April 28, 2008
‘Medicare: Drifting towards disaster’
That’s the topic of a forum of think tanks convening Tuesday to hear from Health and Human Services Secretary Michael O. Leavitt.
The forum skews conservative headed by the Heritage Foundation, The Galen Institute and the American Enterprise Institute
“Medicare is indeed drifting toward disaster,” says the e-mail announcing the forum. “HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt will provide new insights and information on the disastrous fiscal path that Medicare is on, threatening access to health care and the health of the U.S. economy.”