Congress' Deficit Reduction Panel May Target Medicare Supplemental Health Plans

The special deficit reduction panel of the U.S. Congress may target Medicare supplemental health plans, according to a Reuters report.

"Medigap" insurance plans shield the elderly, many of whom live on fixed incomes, from expensive deductibles and other costs not covered by the traditional fee-for-service Medicare healthcare program.

According to the report, the super committee has been tasked with trimming the federal budget deficit by at least $1.2 trillion over 10 years. Proposals to limit Medicare supplemental health plans have been included in a number of deficit reduction packages, including one proposed by President Barack Obama.

Of the approximately 46 million Medicare enrollees, about 9 million have signed up for one of 10 standardized Medigap plans. Many of those enrollees participate in plans with no deductibles or cost-sharing requirements, according to the report.

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