Overlooked Plans to Add Medicare Benefits Get More Attention

A long-shot bid to expand health care benefits for seniors is beginning to gain attention as part of Democrats' signature health care bill, which the House is expected to vote on Thursday, Roll Call reports. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and committee leaders are aiming to use savings from the drug bill to add dental, hearing and vision benefits to Medicare. Democrats say the legislation could result in $500 billion in savings over a decade, based on guidance they received from the Congressional Budget Office. Despite increasing evidence that dental, vision and hearing care are critical to long-term health, House Democrats hoping for enactment would have to overcome reservations from some Republicans, as well as high-powered provider and health insurance groups wary of increasing the federal government's influence. If Democrats are successful, the bills would plug critical holes in the federal health program for seniors. Groups such as the American Council of Life Insurers, the National Association of Dental Plans, the National Association of Vision Care Plans, the International Hearing Society, and the American Optometric Association endorse the idea.