http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills info@washingtonwatch.com http://www.pjdoland.com/chai/?v=0.1 http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_SN_960.html#61889 "would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a refundable and advanceable credit against income tax for payment of such premiums." Retired seniors on Social Security ALONE would seem the intended (and most needy) recipients of this bill. HOWEVER, few to none of them (us) make any money and pay income taxes - so the provision is worse than disingenuous as a benefit, because it helps only those who need it less. Ho will a senior couple living on less than $1000 per month, too old to get work in the area, and already saddled with doubling utility rates, unable even to afford a doctor's visit when in pain, pay the "premium" for even Medicare?... 61889@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/history/111_SN_960.html?rev=47453 <p>S. 960 would amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to provide access to Medicare benefits for individuals ages 55 to 65, and it would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a refundable and advanceable credit against income tax for payment of such premiums.</p> <h2 id="toc0"> Detailed Summary </h2> <p>Medicare Early Access Act of 2009 - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to add a new part E (Purchase of Medicare Benefits by Certain Individuals 55 to 65 Years of Age).</p> <p>Provides access to Medicare benefits for individuals 55 to 64 years of age who do not have coverage under a federal health insurance program or under a group plan.</p> <p>Requires enrollees to pay a premium to receive Medicare coverage. Requires the Secretary to base the premium on the Secretary's estimate of the average, national annual per capita amount of the cost of providing services to the population.</p> <p>Allows early retirees with access to retiree coverage to enroll under this part while keeping their federal or state COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985) continuation coverage. Allows an employer that offers employment-based retiree health coverage to an individual who enrolls under this part to modify such coverage to provide for: (1) employer payment of items and services for which payment may not be made under Medicare; and (2) employer payment of 25% of the monthly premium applicable to the individual after enrollment.</p> <p>Creates in the Treasury the Medicare Early Access Trust Fund to hold the premiums collected under this Act and to support the new program.</p> <p>Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow program enrollees to receive a 75% advance, refundable credit to offset Medicare early access premium costs (thus requiring program enrollees in the Medicare early access program to be responsible for 25% of the monthly premiums).</p> <!--Leave in the 'summary' tags if you want the latest summary from the Congressional Research Service automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc1"> Status of the Legislation </h2> <p>Latest Major Action: 5/1/2009: Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.</p> <!-- Leave in the 'status' tags if you want the latest reported status from THOMAS automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc2"> Points in Favor </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> <h2 id="toc3"> Points Against </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> 47453@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 20 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_SN_960.html#58767 This is a great bill and will help people 55-65 tremendously!... 58767@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 13 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/history/111_SN_960.html?rev=45624 <p>S. 960 would amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to provide access to Medicare benefits for individuals ages 55 to 65, and it would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a refundable and advanceable credit against income tax for payment of such premiums.</p> <h2 id="toc4"> Detailed Summary </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to provide a detailed summary of the bill!)</p> <!--Leave in the 'summary' tags if you want the latest summary from the Congressional Research Service automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc5"> Status of the Legislation </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to update the status of the bill!)</p> <!-- Leave in the 'status' tags if you want the latest reported status from THOMAS automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc6"> Points in Favor </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> <h2 id="toc7"> Points Against </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> 45624@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 06 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/history/111_SN_960.html?rev=45625 <p>S. 960 would amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to provide access to Medicare benefits for individuals ages 55 to 65, and it would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a refundable and advanceable credit against income tax for payment of such premiums.</p> <h2 id="toc8"> Detailed Summary </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to provide a detailed summary of the bill!)</p> <!--Leave in the 'summary' tags if you want the latest summary from the Congressional Research Service automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc9"> Status of the Legislation </h2> <p>Latest Major Action: 5/1/2009: Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.</p> <!-- Leave in the 'status' tags if you want the latest reported status from THOMAS automatically to replace the text between the tags once it becomes available. --> <h2 id="toc10"> Points in Favor </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> <h2 id="toc11"> Points Against </h2> <p>(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should not pass!)<br /> <!-- First editor: Go ahead and take out the sentence in parentheses, and this notice! --> </p> 45625@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Wed, 06 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/111_SN_960.html 5/1/2009: Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. 46393@http://www.washingtonwatch.com Fri, 01 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT