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Michigan seniors oppose GOP health bill, cite higher costs

Posted at 1:39 PM, Mar 16, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-16 14:45:31-04

AARP Michigan is coming out against a Republican health care bill that the advocacy group worries would weaken Medicare's fiscal sustainability and make insurance more expensive for seniors age 50 to 64.

The organization also said Thursday that many lower-income seniors who qualify for Medicaid could be affected by the legislation under consideration in Congress.

The AARP organized a news conference in Lansing at which seniors expressed their concerns.

One provision in particular that drew their ire is letting insurers charge older customers five times more than younger ones instead of the current 3-1 limit. The AARP says that, combined with proposed tax subsidy changes, could boost the premium of a 64-year-old earning $15,000 annually by as much as $8,400.