Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius traveled to Maine Thursday to formally release a new report on the importance of health insurance reform for older women (ages 55-64) and senior women (ages 65 and older).
Sebelius participated in a South Portland roundtable discussion sponsored by the AARP and Maine Women’s Lobby, then vitied the University of Maine in Orono for a discussion sponsored by Maine Change that Works.
“Our mothers and grandmothers have unique health needs and under the status quo, they aren’t getting the quality, affordable care they deserve,” said Sebelius. “Health insurance reform will strengthen healthcare for older women and senior women in Maine and across the country.”
The report, “Strengthening the Health Insurance System: How Health Insurance Reform Will Help America’s Older and Senior Women” identifies problems, and proposes solutions, in health insurance.
According to the report:
- Senior women (age 65 and older) spent, on average, 17 percent of their income on healthcare in 2005.
- The growth in Medicare Part B premiums from 2000 to 2018 is predicted to cost seniors an additional $1,577 per year out-of-pocket.
- Health insurance reform will reduce overpayments to private plans and clamp down on fraud and abuse to lower premiums for all seniors and extend the life of the Medicare trust fund by five years.
- One in five women aged 50 and above has not received a mammogram in the past two years.
- By ensuring that health plans cover preventive services, investing in prevention and wellness and promoting primary care, health insurance reform will work to create a system that prevents illness and disease instead of just treating it when it’s too late and costs more.