Medicare Catastrophic: Roll Back of Premiums on Schedule.

Abstract

This report responds to your requests asking us to address a series of questions about the Social Security Administration's (SSA) effort to stop withholding Medicare catastrophic coverage premiums. This report updates information we gave to your offices during January and February 1990. The Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988 expanded the Medicare program to cover catastrophic medical expenses and a prescription drug benefit for millions of elderly and disabled enrollees. Payments for this coverage were to be deducted from monthly Social Security payments. But almost immediately, the act came under fire from beneficiaries who either had catastrophic coverage or who had to pay more than they wanted or expected. As a result, in December 1989, most provisions of the act were repealed effective January 1, 1990.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1990
Accession Number
ADA282328

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Health Services
  • Medicare
  • Prescription Drugs
  • Security
  • Social Security

Readers

  • Government and Public Administration Law.
  • Rehabilitation and Prosthetic Care for Military Service Members and Veterans with Limb Loss or Disability.