Medicare Premium Increase To Be Less Than Expected

Monthly premiums for Medicare Part B, which covers physician visits and outpatient procedures, will rise by $3.50 next year to $99.90. Earlier this year, Medicare trustees projected that premiums would increase by $10.20. Obama administration officials attributed the lower rates in part to cost-cutting provisions under the federal health reform law and beneficiaries' lower use of services.

• "Medicare Premiums Rise Less Than Expected" (Radnofsky, Wall Street Journal, 10/27).
• "Rise in Medicare Premium Is Lower Than Predicted" (Pear, New York Times, 10/27).
• "Medicare Part B Premium Increase To Be Less Than Expected" (Kliff, Washington Post, 10/27).