Medicare has just announced new premium bands for 2010. Essentially, beneficiaries whose adjusted income exceeds the target amounts ($85,000 single, $170,000 joint) will see steep premium hikes.
Current beneficiaries whose income is under those thresholds will not see a premium increase for 2010. Rather, the increase that would have applied to them will be paid by "federal revenues" (which for the most part means "taxes".)
My question is this: What about the premiums for those who elected one of the Medicare Advantage plans (from private insurance companies) and whose income is under the threshold. Will their premiums be covered by tax revenues also?