Medicare Waiting Period Elimination Legislation Highlighted by Coalition

November 23, 2008

A coalition of 75 patient and consumer organizations held a Capitol Hill press conference on November 12, 2008, to press passage of legislation to eliminate the Medicare waiting period. The North American Brain Tumor Coalition is a member of the coalition seeking improvements in Medicare for the disabled.

Legislation sponsored by Representative Gene Green (D-TX) and Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) would eliminate the two-year waiting period for receipt of Medicare benefits for people with life-threatening illnesses and would phase out the waiting period for all others over a ten-year time span. As too many brain tumor patients konw, the period of “waiting” for Medicare benefits can result in foregoing needed health care or can trigger a family’s bankruptcy due to medical expenses. Brain tumor patients are among 1.5 million disabled persons waiting for their Medicare benefits at any one time. Some of those may find coverage through Medicaid, but many must deplete their savings for health care.

At the November 12 press conference, Representative Gene Green signaled that he and Senator Bingaman will seek to have the provision to end the waiting period incorporated in a major health reform bill. If that strategy fails, they will seek passage of the bill as a freestanding measure. Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, has stated that he supports elimination of the waiting period. This was seen as a major boost to the coalition’s efforts to see the legislation included in health reform legislation.

Posted in Advocacy Positions, General News