The bill now goes to the Senate, where the Finance Committee is expected to take it up soon.
About three-fourths of Medicare beneficiaries are, by law, already exempt from premium increases next year because inflation has been negative this year, but this exemption does not apply to high-income beneficiaries, new Medicare enrollees and low-income beneficiaries also qualifying for Medicaid.
The House bill would not affect scheduled premiums increases for the Medicare Part D prescription drug program from $28 this year to $30 in 2010.
Read the Associated Press report on Medicare premiums.
