Seniors and Retirement Security | Congressman Joe Courtney

Seniors and Retirement Security

Courtney Reminds Connecticut Seniors to Review Medicare Coverage in Open Enrollment
October 15, 2014
Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC – Today U.S. Representative Joe Courtney (CT-2) issued a reminder to Medicare beneficiaries in eastern Connecticut that open enrollment begins today and extends through December 7, 2014. Medicare open enrollment is the period when beneficiaries can change their health plan and prescription drug coverage for 2015. If an enrollee's current plan meets the enrollee's health care needs in 2015, the enrollee will not do not need to do anything additional.

Issues: Health Care Seniors and Retirement Security
Courtney Announces Medicare Part B Premiums Will Not Rise for Connecticut Seniors
October 10, 2014
Press Release

WASHINGTON—Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-2) announced that Medicare beneficiaries will not see any increase in premium costs for Medicare Part B in 2015. Despite claims that Part B premiums would rise significantly for seniors, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) confirmed the standard premium for 2015 will be $104.90—the same as in 2013 and 2014.

Issues: Health Care Seniors and Retirement Security
New data shows Affordable Care Act saved eastern Connecticut seniors more than $14 million on prescription drugs in 2013
April 10, 2014
Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC– According to new data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), 12,262 eastern Connecticut Medicare beneficiaries saved $14,474,351 on prescription drugs because of the Affordable Care Act in 2013. The number already dwarfs the $10,849,307 eastern Connecticut seniors saved in 2012, and it will continue to grow each year until the Part D donut hole is completely phased out in 2020.

Issues: Health Care Seniors and Retirement Security
Courtney tries again to fix Medicare 'observation' problem
February 12, 2014
In The News

By Judy Benson

Problems caused by a Medicare rule that forces hospitals to label certain patients under "observation" status rather than as inpatients have only worsened in the four years since U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney first introduced legislation to fix it. That's the assessment of case managers at the region's two hospitals, who both applaud the third bill Courtney and other lawmakers have introduced since 2010 to change Medicare rules so that patients could be covered for skilled nursing care after a hospitalization, regardless of whether they were "observation" patients or inpatients. Under the current rules, Medicare patients discharged to skilled nursing care facilities must pay out of pocket for those services, unless they were labeled as hospital "inpatients" for three consecutive days. Increasingly strict limits on who can be classified as an inpatient - with penalties for hospitals that mislabel patients - have meant hospitals are categorizing more patients as "observation."
Issues: Seniors and Retirement Security
Bid to Alter Confusing, and Sometimes Costly, Medicare ‘Observation' Status Gains Support
February 11, 2014
In The News

By Kerry Young

As Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Conn., sees it, more of his colleagues are becoming aware of the ill effects that can occur when hospitals tell Medicare that a person who spent days being treated within their walls was not an “inpatient.” Courtney and many advocacy groups say that when hospitals instead slot patients as receiving “observation” services, that can deprive them of needed follow-up skilled nursing care. Or, it can cost them dearly if they use these services as after a hospital stay.
Issues: Seniors and Retirement Security
Courtney says his office recovered $1.5M
January 4, 2014
In The News
U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney says his office helped to return more than $1.5 million last year to eastern Connecticut constituents who were owed everything from Social Security checks to overdue veterans' benefits.
Issues: Seniors and Retirement Security
Courtney Recovers More Than $1.5 Million in Savings for Constituent Taxpayers in 2013
December 31, 2013
Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC –Congressman Joe Courtney today announced that, since the beginning of 2013, his office has helped return $1,587,211 to eastern Connecticut citizens who were owed Social Security checks, veterans' benefits, tax refunds and other payments from the federal government. Since Courtney's arrival in Congress in 2007, his casework staff has helped thousands of constituents cut through bureaucratic red tape.

Issues: Seniors and Retirement Security
AARP Releases New Report, Recommends Passage of Courtney Legislation
November 15, 2013
Press Release

WASHINGTON--Today, Congressman Joe Courtney released the following statement on a new study from the AARP Public Policy Institute that shows a dramatic increase in the number of observation status hospital stays between 2001 and 2009. Use of the "observation" classification for Medicare beneficiaries more than doubled during that time period as the average length of those hospital stays increased.

Issues: Health Care Seniors and Retirement Security
Medicare Part B premiums remaining level for 2014
October 31, 2013
In The News

By Arielle Levin Becker

Monthly premiums for Medicare Part B will remain stable in 2014 at $104.90 for most beneficiaries, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced this week. The premiums paid Medicare recipients with higher incomes -- less than 5 percent of the beneficiaries -- will also remain level in 2014. The deductible for that portion of the program will also stay at its current level, $147. Medicare Part B covers physician and outpatient hospital services, as well as some home health care and durable medical equipment.
Issues: Seniors and Retirement Security
Courtney Announces Part B Premiums Will Not Rise for Connecticut Seniors on Medicare
October 29, 2013
Press Release

WASHINGTON—Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-2) announced that Medicare beneficiaries will not see any increase in premium costs for Medicare Part B in 2014. Despite reports that premiums would rise significantly for Part B recipients in 2014, the Center for Medicare Services (CMS) confirmed that 2013 rates will remain in effect.

Issues: Health Care Seniors and Retirement Security
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