Premiums and deductibles in Medicare Part B will remain the same next year, saving seniors more than $125 compared with projections, federal health officials said Thursday.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) touted the news as a boon to seniors and evidence that ObamaCare is successfully slowing the growth of healthcare costs.
{mosads}”The stabilization of Part B premiums is another example of how we are containing healthcare costs to provide a more sustainable and affordable health delivery system,” CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner said in a statement.
“This means even greater financial and health security for our seniors next year as their premiums will remain unchanged.”
Medicare Part B covers care from doctors, durable medical equipment, outpatient hospital stays and some home health services.
Seniors enrolled in the benefit will pay $104.90 and $147 for premiums and deductibles, respectively — the same amount as this year.
It is hard to say how much the healthcare law is contributing to slow Medicare spending growth. Some economists have debated the point with the administration, arguing that the recovering economy is the key factor.