Medicare on the Rise Story aired: Tuesday, September 07, 2004
Medicare premiums for millions of elderly and disabled Americans will rise this year by 17 percent, or almost $12 a month, the largest increase in the program's 40-year history. The news of the increase was released on Friday, six weeks earlier than normal.
On the campaign trail this weekend, John Kerry seized on rising premiums to criticize the Bush administration. The president didn't mention the increased premiums this weekend, but he did defend his Medicare reforms.
