WASHINGTON - Democratic leaders in the House and Senate last week sent a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Burwell, U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Thomas Perez, and Social Security Administration Acting Commissioner Carolyn Colvin, urging collaboration across agencies to better inform seniors of their Medicare eligibility. Providing information to individuals approaching Medicare eligibility can prevent a lifetime of higher Medicare premiums and other coverage gaps.
The letter was sent by House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI), House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), House Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby" Scott (D-VA), and the co-chairs of the Congressional Task Force on Seniors Representatives Doris Matsui (D-CA) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL).
“As we celebrate Medicare’s 50th year, it is vital to ensure that future beneficiaries avoid unnecessary penalties and other harms resulting from honest enrollment mistakes," the Members wrote in the letter.
Currently, no federal agency is responsible for notifying people new to Medicare who are not already collecting Social Security benefits about enrollment rules and obligations. This void represents an information gap for consumers who naturally look to the federal government for instructions and information about their Social Security and Medicare benefits.
The lawmakers urged, “Adequate notification and targeted education are essential to simplifying Medicare enrollment for our nation’s retirees and people with disabilities."
The full letter can be found here.
