Sen. Sherman Applauds Vote to Enact Automatic Health Insurance Premium Reductions for New Hampshire Seniors

CONCORD, New Hampshire, Feb. 7 -- The New Hampshire State Senate issued the following news release on the behalf of State Sen. Tom Sherman, D-Rye:

The Senate voted in favor of SB 646-FN, Senator Tom Sherman's bill to require insurers to automatically lower Medicare premium rates when a qualifying individual turns 65. Currently, insurers are not required to send notification of the lowered premium rate resulting in unnecessarily higher out-of-pocket costs for the qualifying individual.

After the vote, prime sponsor Senator TomSherman (D-Rye) issued the following statement:

"It is our responsibility as a Legislature to make sure New Hampshire's senior citizens are protected from unnecessarily overpayment for their health care.

"It is only fair that when a person becomes eligiblefor a lower premium, that cost is automatically lowered.

"It is unfortunate that we have seen some insurance companies fail to notify their customers of the lower premium costs but I am proud of the work done by this body to ensure those companies are no longer able to take advantage of our seniors."