Government
Assistance program for low-income Medicare beneficiaries extended
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Nov. 7, 2005
The federal government will continue to pick up the cost of Medicare outpatient premiums for certain low-income people under legislation that President Bush signed into law last month.
The Medicare qualified individual program, or QI, pays the Part B premiums for nearly 200,000 seniors who earn between 120% and 135% of the poverty level and who have limited assets. Such premiums are expected to cost nearly $90 per month starting in January.
QI temporarily lost its federal authorization at the end of September when Congress failed to renew it. After receiving pressure from Bush, both houses agreed on a bill to extend the program through September 2007.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/11/07/gvbf1107.htm.
