One more thing on Seniors' Choice Act

Even if we managed to get the details straight for Sens. Burr and Coburn’s proposal to move toward a competitive bidding/premium support approach in Medicare (my early take, Austin’s thoughts; more this morning on premium support), it is impossible to fully evaluate their proposal without knowing what they plan to do about the ACA. Their latest proposal assumes implementation of the ACA, but they continue to call for its repeal and presumably, replacement. And of course the Seniors’ Choice Act would increase the eligibility age for Medicare, making the question of access to health insurance for the near elderly even more important.

Sens. Burr and Coburn co-sponsored a proposal to address coverage for younger persons in the last Congress (The Patients’ Choice Act), but it has never been scored by the CBO. Presumably, that could change, and it would be a useful step. You cannot fully evaluate the Seniors’ Choice Act without knowing the health insurance plan for the under-65 age group that would operate along side it.

DT