Fix Health Care Policy

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Addressing our nation’s overspending problem cannot be done without reforming entitlements, especially Medicare and Medicaid. As Washington remains clearly divided over how to get it done, Senator Orrin Hatch (R–UT) has outlined 5 health care reforms that are bipartisan.

These reforms have had the support of both parties in the past and are capable of effectively reining in spending:

1. Raise Medicare’s eligibility age. Hatch proposes raising the Medicare eligibility age gradually from 65 to 67, which would coincide with Social Security. This proposal enjoys a wide range of support from both sides of the aisle and would garner significant savings for the Medicare program. Heritage’s reform proposal would raise the eligibility age to 68, which would yield an estimated savings of $243.6 billion over 10 years.
2. Reform Medigap to incentivize better behavior. Limiting Medicare supplemental plans that cover initial out-of-pocket costs would decrease the excessive utilization currently occurring. This would incentivize better behavior from seniors and lower Medicare’s costs over time.

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Tags: bipartisan reforms, eligibility age, entitlements, incentivize, Medicaid, Medicare, Medigap