Senate Health Care Bill Would Slam Older Adults with Much Higher Costs

A new analysis of the Senate’s proposed health care bill shows that older New Yorkers would be forced to pay much higher premiums or go without health insurance coverage.

With the proposed spike in premiums and reduced tax credits, a 60-year old New Yorker with a $45,000 annual income could have to pay up to $3,020 more in 2020.

The new analysis by AARP’s Public Policy Institute looks at expected increases in premiums and out-of-pocket costs for older New Yorkers by income level, if those people chose to keep their current coverage.

“Forcing people over fifty to pay thousands more will mean many New Yorkers will not be able to afford to go to the doctor, fill their prescriptions or get the care they need,” said AARP New York State Director Beth Finkel. “We urge all Senators to vote ‘NO’ on this higher cost, less coverage bill.”

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Details of the AARP Public Policy Institute can be found here.

Yesterday, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office released a revision to its original analysis of the bill which shows that the most vulnerable Americans would face even harsher cuts to services funded by Medicaid in the second decade if the bill became law – with the program cut by 35 percent during that period.

Recent surveys of older Americans in key states showed strong opposition to the provisions of the House-passed health reform bill.