Cuts to Medicare Advantage Off The Table

Congressional negotiators have agreed not to include revisions to Medicare in compromise SCHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program) legislation that would reauthorize and expand the program, and lawmakers could vote on compromise legislation next week.
The draft compromise bill, announced on Sunday, closely resembles the Senate version of SCHIP legislation, which would provide an additional $35 billion in funding over the next five years and bring total spending on the program to $60 billion. The additional funding would be paid for by an increase in the tobacco tax, which would be similar to the 61-cent-per-pack tax proposed in the Senate version.
The compromise bill does not include provisions of the House bill that would reduce payments to Medicare Advantage plans to help fund an expansion of the program, leaving a cigarette tax increase as the primary funding source for the legislation.
To many people this is a complicated and unconcerning issue. This legislation has a far-reaching impact on the healthcare issue in America. The political parties are using it to "draw a line in the sand." Each will try to make use of it in upcoming elections.
For seniors however, it appears that Medicare Advantage plans will remain unaffected. This means that seniors, many of whom could not afford and did not have, a Medicare supplement, will continue to benefit from lower cost MA plans. All Medicare beneficiaries will have this option available to them. Options are a good thing.