H.R. 10012: Veterans Medicare Premium Transparency Act

This bill would change the Medicare information sent to beneficiaries so that it more clearly explains how enrollment in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) patient enrollment system can affect Medicare costs for veterans.

What it would require Medicare to explain

• The annual “Medicare & You” handbook would have to include an explanation of how being enrolled in the VA patient enrollment system affects:
  • the monthly premium for Medicare Part B, and
  • the monthly premium for a Part D prescription drug plan.
• The explanation would have to state clearly that months a person is enrolled in the VA patient enrollment system are counted when determining certain Medicare Part B premium amounts.
• It would also have to explain that enrollment in the VA patient enrollment system counts as creditable prescription drug coverage for Part D.

Online information update

The Secretary of Health and Human Services would have to post this same information on Medicare.gov, or any replacement website, and on any other HHS website the Secretary decides is relevant.

Report to Congress

Within 180 days after enactment, the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and Veterans Affairs would have to send Congress a joint report that includes:

• a summary of the updates made to HHS publications to reflect the new explanation, and
• an estimate of how many veterans were:
  • paying a higher Medicare Part B premium at the time the law took effect, and
  • at some point enrolled in the VA patient enrollment system.

Practical effect

In plain terms, the bill does not change who can get Medicare or VA benefits. Instead, it focuses on better informing veterans about how VA enrollment can affect their Medicare premium calculations and prescription drug coverage status.

Relevant Companies

None found