medicare

Seniors Can Now Sign Up for Medicare Drug Discount Cards

Many seniors seeking help with rising drug costs can now register for a Medicare discount prescription drug card, but the vast array of some 73 different cards has some worried the program may be too complex for those it is…

White House Backs Probe Into Medicare Cost Dispute

The White House Wednesday endorsed Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson's call for a probe into whether Medicare's chief actuary was pressured to suppress his cost estimates of the 2003 Medicare bill.

Senate Approves McClellan As New Medicare Chief

The Senate approved FDA chief Mark McClellan's nomination to head Medicare on Friday, after the vote was delayed over concerns about his opposition to legalizing the importation of prescription drugs.

Cost of Medicare Changes Climbs From $400 Billion to $530 Billion

The Bush administration announced Thursday that the new Medicare changes passed by Congress two months ago would cost at least $530 billion over ten years -- one-third more than the original Congressional Budget Office estimate.

Medicare Prescription Drug Bill Signed Into Law

President Bush on Monday signed a $400 billion, 10-year Medicare bill that will enact sweeping changes to the entitlement program by adding a prescription drug benefit and increasing the roll of private companies.

Lawmakers Likely to Miss Oct. 17 Medicare Drug Bill Deadline

Key lawmakers working on Medicare prescription drug legislation conceded late Tuesday they will miss an Oct. 17 target date for a final House-Senate compromise as they continue to hash out the details of the plan.

Costs Rising for Those in Private Medicare Plans

As Congress considers expanding the roll that private plans play in Medicare, a report released Monday by The Commonwealth Fund cautioned that those enrolled in private Medicare+Choice plans have seen their costs double over the past four years.

President Bush Outlines Plan to Add Drug Coverage to Medicare

President Bush on Tuesday proposed offering more generous prescription drug benefits to Medicare beneficiaries who switch to private health plans.

Judge Rejects Pres. Bush's Discount Drug Card Plan

A federal judge Wednesday barred the Bush administration from putting in place a plan to offer discount prescription drug cards to Medicare recipients.

Pres. Bush Pledges Medicare Overhaul

President Bush today promised to "modernize and strengthen Medicare" in addition to offering a discounted prescription coverage for seniors.