Health Care Reform Must Be Affordable for Older Americans
Document Actions
The LCAO urges the Senate Finance Committee to address problems with the current health care reform proposal, which would adversely affect older Americans with moderate incomes.
The Leadership Council of Aging Organizations sent a letter to the Senate Finance Committee urging that its members pay special attention to the needs of moderate-income people over 50 when negotiating health care reform.
Current versions of the health care reform legislation include provisions that would result in coverage that is still unaffordable and therefore inaccessible for many Americans aged 50 to 64.
The letter gives an example of unaffordable coverage:
...[A] 60 year old woman earning $40,000 per year would – assuming a $300 monthly pre-age rated premium and 5-1 age rating – pay a premium cost of $525 per month ($6,300 annually). At 369% of FPL, she would not be eligible for subsidies, and her premiums would consume 16% of income (before taxes). With modest cost sharing of $1,500, her share of income would be 19% (again before taxes). Under a benefit standard that imposes 27% cost sharing, her costs could easily double, resulting in 23% of her before tax income going to health care costs...
The LCAO, which includes NSCLC and more than 60 other aging organizations, also has a list of Recommendations for Health Care Reform and Older Americans
