Medicare Changes for 2010
AndyS
The following is a cut and past from misc.financial-planning in which
the Medicare changes for 2010 are addressed
Many here will be very relieved to learn of this:
*************CUT AND PASTE FROM POST BY SKIP WELDON ********
> Medicare has just announced new premium bands for 2010. Essentially,
> beneficiaries whose adjusted income exceeds the target amounts
> ($85,000 single, $170,000 joint) will see steep premium hikes.
> Current beneficiaries whose income is under those thresholds will not
> see a premium increase for 2010. Rather, the increase that would have
> applied to them will be paid by "federal revenues" (which for the most
> part means "taxes".)
> My question is this: What about the premiums for those who elected one
> of the Medicare Advantage plans (from private insurance companies) and
> whose income is under the threshold. Will their premiums be covered
> by tax revenues also?
Everyone (except those on MedicAid) will pay the same "1st tier" part
B
premium - $96.40 for those who were in Medicare Pt B in 2009, $110.50
if
you join Medicare in 2010. The $96.40 will remain in effect until at
least 2012 and any increase after that will be limited to the COLA
increase in Social Security payments (unless Congress changes the
rules).
Part B was supposed to cover about 25% of the actual program costs of
the previous year but cant increase faster that the Social Security
premium so that dollars received after the part B deduction is not
reduced.
**********END OF CUT AND PASTE **********************
I find this very reasonable. It sure makes sense that if we get
no COLA next year, that government charges for Medicare should
stay the same...... Nice to know that somebody has actually
thought of this...
Andy in Eureka, Texas
Jim_Higgins
Thanks for the info Andy.
AndyS
> Medicare remains a very, very good deal. I am in a Medicare
> Advantage Plan and next year I will be charged a premium of
> $25 a month if I stay in it, and also co-pays for doctor visits
> have been raised $5. It is still a good deal and not wanting to
> experience finding new doctors I'll happily accept the
> changes. I haven't had any serious illness since I became
> eligible for Medicare 15 years ago and so my output has
> been minimal. My plan covers me to avoid much out of
> pocket in case of surgery or a serious illness.
>
> I think those who complain about Medicare are big babies.
> Let them think through what they would pay for private
> insurance at our ages -- if they could even obtain it.
Andy comments:
I agree completely. My wife has been on Medicare for almost
5 years, and I have United Healthcare since I won't be Medicare
eligible for a couple years yet.
That puts me in a position to be able to compare personal
experience with a government sponsored plan versus private.
We both use the same doctor, and I have noted the following:
My wife seems to have a longer waiting time for her
appointments. She has sometimes had to wait hours
past her appointment time. My wait times are usually
around 15 minutes, at most. I think this may be due
to the higher reimbursement rates from private insurers
and Medicare patients are "squeezed in"....
Payments to the clinic on Medicare are automatic and there
is never a hassle about dealing with two or three separate
entities. We are sent a statement by our supplement
provider that such and such was paid, just for our own
records, but there has never been a problem.
Payments thru our private plan goes wrong every time.
The insurance company pays their part and sends me
a statement saying whay I owe, and the clinic sends me
a bill . The two amounts are never the same, and I have to
get on the phone to 1) the insurance company, 2) the
clinic, and 3) any other doctor or lab that the clinic uses
as a "consultant", and straighten it out. The insurance
company is always correct, and the clinic routinely tries
to overcharge me. I fix it, and they concede their error,
but it happens every goddam time.
There is no difference in treatment that I can see. However
I think it is a function of the doctor we have, who seems to
take everything seriously, medical wise, but has a good sense
of humor and I can joke around with him, ---- a plus during
my yearly dance with Dr Jellyfinger...... (Hard to act
serious for me under those conditions ). I understand the
preference one has for one doctor over another, since I
have met my share of doctors with a God complex.
So, while nothing really bad has happened, it goes so
much smoother when the provider deals with the government
than when they deal with me, a private insurer, and maybe
some outside help they hire at the same time.
In my opinion, the only entity that has the power to reign
in charges and brook no nonsense is the government. The one
thing that , I believe, government exists for is to do those
things that individuals have practically no power in doing
for themselves ----- roads, defense, interstate commerce,
monopolies, etc.
Anyway, that's my story, and I'm stickin' to it !!!!!
Andy in Eureka, Texas
Nixon.D
"AndyS" <andys...@juno.com> wrote in message
news:8df714c7-c9d7-4988...@m16g2000yqc.googlegroups.com...
Your experiences and opinions are much the same as mine, Andy.
Not extreme left or extreme right.
At times your posts make you seem about a halfway decent feller'; I don't
care what the others say about you.
McD.OfMerryland
=================================================================
AndyS
> And yet a lot of people say the government insurance will
> screw things up. I think those who have experienced Medicare
> do not find that true.
Andy comments:
Yes, a LOT of Dems and Reps have that set in their mind, and
nothing
is going to change it. It's the same sort of mindset that keeps some
citizens from holding Obama accountable for the promises he made.
Or that blame Bush for lack of immigration reform, when he and Ted
Kennedy crafted a bill together....(nobody remembers it was a bi-
partisan
bill).
No, some people have their minds made up.... and that's
that....!!!!!
If it were government bureaucrats making health decisions, there would
be some merit to an objection. But, as soon as ONE SINGLE PERSON
died
because a political appointee screwed up, the shit would hit the fan,
and the politicians know it. I really like the idea that a set of
rules
would be set down that EVERYONE has to follow, and the power
to really really enforce those rules is there. Like in Medicare...
By the way, Humana is offering 4 advantage plans in my area now.
The co-pays are about $40 for an office visit, which sounds
reasonable
to me, but is a lot more expensive than the plan Rita is using.
I guess it changes based on the location. I will be talking to a
Humana rep in another week or so.
Andy in Eureka, Texas
AndyS
Rita wrote:
>
> What is the fee for an office visit under traditional Medicare?
>
Andy comments:
I'm not sure. But my memory says it is about a third of the cost
of an "uninsured" office visit....... so you can see why the doctors
and AMA are complaining.....
The supplement policy my wife has pays whatever it is....
Our supplement policy , Plan C, costs about $2K USD per year.
We can afford that. And we get no bills from anyone....
Medicare pays their part, --- they forward the bill to our supplement
insurer --- they pay their part, ---- and both entities send us a
statment
showing what they have paid...
While an Advantage plan may cost less ( about $85/month plus the
Medicare of around $100 USD /month ) the supplement allows us to
go ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, and not have a problem with whether or
not Humana has a plan in that particular zip code...
It is an advantage for us, tho it costs more.....
Anyone who is nickel and dimeing their retirement, and has Humana
available, would probably be better off.... Especially if they don't
travel, or plan to stay in their coverage area......
Anyway, since Humana expanded tto my particular area, and our
doctor accepts it...... it is something we are investigating now....
I'm Scottish descendant,,,,,, and you know what that means ... :>)))
Andy in Eureka, Texas
AndyS
> to specialists in the plan when necessary. Those I have seen all have
> been very good indeed.
>
> Now if I travel and become ill and need emergency treatment I am
> covered anywhere in the country. So traveling is not a problem. I
> was treated with no problem under the plan when I injured a knee
> bowling when visiting my son and showing off my bowling form
> (long dormant) to my granddaughters.
>
> My Advantage plan cost nothing in premiums until now -- next year I
> will pay $25 a month.
>
> The supplemental plans for regular Medicare are very expensive.
Andy comments:
The plans are very different there....
NancyR
same plan from AARP, it was $80 more a month. I also pay Part B and for an
Rx plan. Since May 1 when I turned 65 I've not paid one penny to doctors
or hospitals. I've had two hip replacements during this time. I've not
had anyone refuse to see me because I'm a Medicare patient.
I live in a very rural area with little coverage by Medicare advantage
plans. The plans that I looked at were more expensive than traditional
Medicare.
Nancy/Texas
Olly Mensch
my entire insurance set-up overlooked and approved by one of the SHINE
volunteers, at a Senior Centre. They ae trained in insurance matters -
and she had, after carefully weighing all options for me, recommended
Humana. This took place after I stopped my affiliation with Medex-Gold
- whose rates had gone into the stratosphere, and I simply could not
afford them any longer. Thus - I then took Medex Bronze - which is more
reasonable,though also more limited. It was then I took out Humana. I
hope that lady knew what she was talking about - since, everything
together, including the enormous amounts I have to pay for my any meds.
are financially overwhelming - at least for me.
Whether this also applies in your case, I do not know - just reporting!!
But my hunch is that you are much more savvy in these matters than I am
-alas!
Olly