Debt Ceiling Debate Suggests Raising Medicare Eligibility to 67

August 4, 2011

Questions if it will undermine health care reform law

The lead article in the August 3, 2011 NAHU Newswire covers three articles concerning the impact of the debt-ceiling and Medicare. Further discussions surrounding means testing and eligibility for Medicare are on the table in additions to possible reimbursement cuts to clinicians treating Medicare Patients. Other concerns surrounding the increase of the eligibility age to 67 will be the increased numbers enrolling in the new health insurance exchanges. These could undermine the law by causing premiums to rise in the exchanges as more older and sicker Americans enter the new market.

"Essential Health Benefits" are discussed in the August 4, 2011 NAHU Newswire. The Affordable Care Act requires health plans to offer essential benefits to be able to be sold on the federally subsidized exchanges starting in 2014. These essential benefits have yet to be defined. An actuarial analysis indicates that individuals with chronic illnesses that qualify for subsidies still may have a difficult time affording coverage in the exchange.

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