Medicare
Medicare
CMS Announces Medicare Premiums, Deductibles for 2009
The standard Medicare Part B monthly premium will be $96.40 in 2009, the same as the Part B premium for 2008. This is the first year since 2000 that there was no increase in the standard premium over the prior year.
The 2009 Part B premium of $96.40 is the same as the amount projected in the 2008 Medicare Trustees Report issued in March. This monthly premium paid by beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Part B covers a portion of the cost of physicians’ services, outpatient hospital services, certain home health services, durable medical equipment, and other items.
By law, the standard premium is set to cover approximately one-fourth of the average cost of Part B services incurred by beneficiaries aged 65 and over. The remaining Part B costs are financed by Federal general revenues. The income to the program from premiums and general revenues are paid into the Part B account of the Supplementary Medical Insurance trust fund, and Part B expenditures are drawn from this account.
Normally, the Part B premium increases at the same rate as average Part B expenditures from year to year. A number of factors explain why the premium can be kept level for 2009.
Growth is expected in 2009 for most areas of the Medicare Part B program, including growth in the cost and use of physician and outpatient hospital care, home health services, physician-administered drugs, ambulatory surgical center services, durable medical equipment, independent lab and physician’s office lab services, as well as growth in the Medicare Advantage program. In most years, this would result in the need for an increase in the Part B premium and general revenue financing.
To view this Fact Sheet in its entirety go to: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/fact_sheets.asp
Increase Access for Medicare Part D Coverage to Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries
At a time when the industry trend is to provide markedly less coverage for low-income beneficiaries, the 2009 AARP-branded Medicare Part D plans will qualify to acquire and serve more such beneficiaries next year.
A recent study found 308 stand-alone drug plans nationwide are eligible to serve low-income residents next year, down about 200 from this year. The analysis, reported by USA Today, was by Avalere Health, a for-profit research firm in Washington.
While the report indicates prescription drug coverage to this population is declining, the AARP MedicareRx Saver plan, insured through UnitedhealthCare, is able to acquire and serve low-income beneficiaries in 38 states in 2009, up from 28 in 2008.
To acquire and serve the auto-assigned low-income Medicare beneficiaries, Part D plan sponsors must keep their premiums below a government-set benchmark. To meet this standard, explains David Mathis, Senior Vice President, AARP Services Health Products and Services. “United took a thoughtful and disciplined approach when developing its bids this year. They focused on balancing broad access to drugs covered by Medicare and keeping premiums below the low-income regional benchmark premiums.”
Medicare open enrollment runs from Nov. 15 to Dec. 31. Information on the new 2009 AARP MedicareRx Plans is available at www.aarpmedicarerx.com
UCP Medicare Part D Guide
"Navigating the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage Program"
Persons with Disabilities and Prescription Drug Coverage - Dual Eligibility
Contact information and answers to questions about prescription drug coverage for those who are dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare and those who receive Medicare. Click here: MS Word or pdf version.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services - Dual Eligibility Overview
Dual Eligibility Categories and Model Application for Medicare Savings Programs
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Special Election Period
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has established a Special Election Period (SEP) to address situations where an individual has enrolled in a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan based on misleading or incorrect information provided by plan employees, agents or brokers.
Call 1 (800) 633-4227 or 1 (800)MEDICARE. Click HERE (pdf file).
Medicare Part D Appeals Manual
The Medicare Rights Center has created a free, comprehensive, easy-to-understand Medicare Part D appeals manual for advocates who help people with Medicare get the drugs they need.
This 25-page manual offers a complete overview of the entire appeals process, real-life case examples from our Client Services department, a glossary of important Part D appeals terms, a sample appeals protocol for advocates, and links to important resources and documents. All in the consumer-friendly language you have come to expect from the Medicare Rights Center.
Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program
Michigan Medicare/Medicaid Assistance Program at www.mymmap.org has an online learning course, "How to Enroll In Medicare's Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D) using Medicare's Online Tools".
Michigan Drug Prices
State officials have created a new Web site that consumers now can search the prices of 150 prescription drugs. A new feature gives driving directions to the pharmacies on the site and lets users file complaints with the state when they believe pricing information is incorrect or price gouging may be occurring. The Web site is located at: www.michigandrugprices.com
Need Help Paying For Medicine?
The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) is a one-stop resource to apply to get your medicines free or nearly free if you do not have prescription drug coverage. The Web site is sponsored by major drug manufacturers, which all have programs that cover medicines for free or at low cost to people who qualify. Each program is unique and working people, people without jobs, seniors, student, families and single people may all qualify.
To find out if you qualify, go to www.pparxmi.org or call 1 (888)477-2669. The toll-free number has operators who speak several different languages. If you go to the Web site, you can provide information once and then print out an application for each medicine you need.