Misleading Medicare

October 12 The Department of Health and Human Services recently announced that premiums for the new Medicare drug benefit would not increase in 2007, with Secretary Michael Leavitt saying: "The Medicare prescription drug benefit ... just keeps getting better."

In fact, the estimate released by HHS is misleading and disguises significant cost increases for Medicare Part D coverage. The average Medicare premiums will increase by over 10% in 2007, with premiums for the lowest-priced plans increasing over 40%.

A letter from Rep. Waxman to HHS Secretary Leavitt explains why the HHS claims are erroneous and requests that HHS immediately revise its estimates of Medicare Part D premiums to reflect the true cost increases senior citizens will face in 2007. YubaNet.com

Read Waxman's letter which describes many misleading facts and failures of disclosure of actual costs of premiums of the Medicare Drug Program. More links at LA Times and SFGate.com