By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: How PPACA fixes some of the problems of Part D
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Public Health > How PPACA fixes some of the problems of Part D
Policy & LawPublic Health

How PPACA fixes some of the problems of Part D

DavidEWilliams
DavidEWilliams
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

One of the most infuriating and hypocritical elements of the GOP’s attack on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is the complaint about its cost. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office says PPACA will reduce the deficit, not increase it. Even if the projection turns out to be too rosy, there’s no chance PPACA will do anything near the fiscal damage of the Medicare Part D drug benefit, passed under a Republican Administration as a non-means tested gift to old people with absolutely no attempt to offset the expense with new revenue or budget cuts elsewhere. In Some Seniors Are In For Sticker Shock On Drug Premiums, Kaiser Health News reports on the very sound approach PPACA takes to cleaning up some of the excesses of Part D. PPACA reduces the government’s Part D subsidy to Medicare beneficiaries making more than $85,000 or $170,000 for couples. What’s more the income threshold won’t start to adjust for inflation until 2019 meaning more people are likely to fall into the high income category over time. The same rules already apply for Medicare Part B, which pays for physician and outpatient care. Some advocates for the elderly express concern that healthy people will opt out of Medicare and seek private insurance, leading to higher costs for those still enrolled. Yet that’s unlikely to happen:

[James Capretta, a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center] said the odds are “very low” that wealthier seniors would leave Medicare in droves or that insurers would build new products to cover them. “You take an awful big risk by opting out of Medicare, which is guaranteed issue, community-rated insurance. I don’t think a lot of people would do that.” Jonathan Blum, deputy CMS administrator and director of the agency’s Center for Medicare, said he’s not aware of any seniors who have left the program because they had to pay more for their Part B coverage, and he added that CMS is “confident that higher-income beneficiaries will stay in the Part D program based upon the history and the fact that the Part D benefit is more generous.” He also said that while higher-income seniors would be required to pay more for their drug coverage, the benefit is more generous this year, pointing to the 50 percent discount for brand-name prescription drugs once seniors hit the “doughnut hole.”

Remember, Medicare is funded by a payroll tax that affects virtually everyone who works. Many have no health insurance themselves and make a lot less than $85,000. Meanwhile, senior citizens, including plenty who are financially comfortable, have their health care (and pensions) heavily subsidized by the rest of the population. PPACA, meanwhile, is focused on extending coverage to those who lack it, mainly those with moderate to low incomes and those with pre-existing conditions. I say to the advocates of PPACA repeal: if you want to use cost as a justification for repealing PPACA, let’s repeal Medicare or at least Part D at the same time. At least that way we’d save some serious money and dramatically reduce government’s role in the health care business.

Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

a woman walking on the hallway
6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
Health
September 9, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
Global Healthcare
September 9, 2025
travel nurse in north carolina
Balancing Speed and Scope: Choosing the Nursing Degree That Fits Your Goals
Nursing
September 1, 2025
intimacy
How to Keep Intimacy Comfortable as You Age
Relationship and Lifestyle Senior Care
September 1, 2025

You Might also Like

BusinessPolicy & LawPublic Health

Curing Medicare: A Book Review

April 1, 2015

Surprise: Long-Term Care in California is Very Wasteful

May 6, 2011

More Evidence that Medical Malpractice Reform Wouldn’t Stop Excessive Testing

February 8, 2011
Home HealthMedical EducationWellness

What Are The Benefits Of Being A Dietitian?

July 19, 2019
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?