The deficit hits $422 billion.
Medicare premiums increase at a record rate (and the government tries to sneak it by us by releasing the news on the Friday before the Labor Day weekend).
One of the reasons Medicare premiums will rise is the new Medicare drug "benefit," which some don't see as much of a benefit. It was engineered by former CMS chief Tom Scully. This week the General Accounting Office says Tom Scully should pay back part of his salary because he threatened to fire the actuary who says he was told to lie about the true cost of the Medicare law.
And a new study shows that four years of double-digit growth in health care premiums is taking a toll on workers: There are at least 5 million fewer jobs providing health insurance in 2004 than there were in 2001.
Do you think we'll have anything to talk about in this blog?
Posted by schwitz at September 9, 2004 02:20 PMI gotta tell you that I am really excited for the content of this blog. Health care is one of my "big issues" and yet I really don't know much about the pros and cons of various plans being touted in the media right now. Anyway, I look forward to your future posts.
Shane