Opinion : To the Editor: Medicare price increase won\'t be known until after election

Did you receive your Medicare Handbook for 2015 last week?  If you have already received yours in the mail please turn to page 12 and go down to the bottom of the page and read Find out what you pay for Medicare (Part A and Part B).  It states that the premium and deductible amounts were not available at the time of printing.  It further states you may call 1-800-633-4227 to get the most up-to-date info.

 

I did just that and talked with a Medicare representative.  She told me that they probably would not have those figures in until the end of the first week or possibly the second week of November.

 

Now, let that sink in!

 

As soon as she stated that to me I replied, "My, isn't that convenient for the Obama Administration to actually hold off on those figures until after the 2014 election is over.”  There was dead silence on the other end of the line.  I thanked her and said that I would call back.

 

You see the Social Security increase for next year is only around 1%.  Even the military are getting just over 1%.  You can bet after the November 4th election, the increases for Medicare A & B will be greater than 1%.  That is why they are delaying what the increases will be.  Because if they had put it in that handbook, any elderly would be voting against the Democrats.

An Insurance Adjuster will tell you that rate increases are effective 1 January and by law enrolled personnel must be notified by 1 November - 60 days.  

Doesn't it seem ironic that Medicare Premiums and Deductibles, results of the investigation on Bowe Bergdahl and Immigration Reform are not going to be
known until after the election.

Monte L. Railsback
MSgt, USMC (Ret)

Shellsburg