Medicare may raise doctor visit fee

WASHINGTON, March 28 (UPI) -- Medicare beneficiaries may see a double-digit increase in premiums they pay for physician visits and other outpatient care, the Wall Street Journal reports.

The Bush administration has said premiums are projected to rise 12 percent next year to $87.70 a month from $78.20, but the Journal says that could go higher if Congress, as expected, increases Medicare payments to physicians.

The increase means many seniors are seeing a rising share of their monthly Social Security checks eaten up by medical costs, the journal said.

Far into the future, if nothing changes, "many of tomorrow's Social Security beneficiaries might not be able to afford their Medicare benefits," Richard Foster, chief actuary of the federal program for the elderly and disabled, told the newspaper.

"That could slow down their consumption of health care in a way that none of us wants."