My Part D USA

QUESTION: I am losing my group health coverage with General Motors, 1-1-2009, that I have had since I retired. Now I must find a Medicare Supplement and make sure my benefits are as good as what I had. How do I compare these plans, it is so confusing?

ANSWER: We have been contacted by MANY General Motors retirees about this very subject. Keep in mind you will only have 63 days to get your Medicare Supplement with no underwriting on a guarenteed issue basis. EVERY STATE & SUPPLEMENT COMPANY HAS DIFFERENT PRICES FOR EACH PLAN. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THE BENEFITS ARE ALL THE SAME ON EACH PLAN NO MATTER WHAT STATE OR COMPANY YOU CHOOSE. THAT IS WHY YOU NEED A COMPARISON OF MEDIGAP PLANS SO YOU CAN FIND THE BEST PRICE IN THE STATE YOU LIVE IN, FROM THE DIFFERENT CARRIERS. Let me run down the best Medicare Supplement plans and what they do and do not cover for you.

Plan J - This is the Cadillac of Medicare Supplement Plans. Some people like to pay for all the bells and whisles even though they may possibly not need them, just to have that extra luxury. Plan J has everything all the other plans have plus the following:

Prevenative Care - This is an extra $120.00 per year for prevenative care such as a physical. However, if you have any health issues your doctor will do all the bloodwork anyway and you will end up getting the equivalent service.

Home Heath Care - This is $40 per day up to $1,600.00 of unskilled care per year, such as bathing, household chores. If you need this type of care you are probably getting skilled care as well and this is covered under other less expensive plans. You can’t get much for $40 a day these days.

Excess Charges - Plan J will cover 100% of any charges over the limit that Medicare allows for your illness that your doctor bills you. This means that if Medicare allows your Doctor to charge you $3,000 to blast away your Kidney Stones, but the Doctor charges you $3,450, this Plan J will pay for it anyway. LEGALLY, YOUR DOCTOR CAN ONLY CHARGE YOU 15% OVER WHAT MEDICARE WILL PAY.

Part B Deductible - There is a $135.00 yearly deductible on a Medicare Supplement. Plan J covers this for you, however, you may be paying more in premium for this $135 than it is worth.

Plan F - Plan F is the Oldsmobile of Medicare Supplements. It covers everything plan J covers except the following:

Home Heath Care - $1,600.00 per year

Preventative Care - $120 per year

Plan G - Plan G is the Chevrolet of Medicare Supplements. It is the most cost effective plan if paying the premium is an issue for you, yet it still has good coverage. Plan G has everything including Home Heath Care except:

Prevenative Care - $120 per year

100% Excess Charge Coverage - This plan does pay for 80% of excess charges. Which will be more than sufficient in most cases. This means that if Medicare allows the Doctor to charge $2,000 to remove your Gallbladder, and the Doctor charges you $2,300 this Plan G would cover it all but $60.

Part B Deductible Coverage - Keep in mind that if you want your plan to pay for the $135 a year deductible you may be paying more in premium than it is worth.

Plan C - is the same as the F plan, but it does not cover ANY EXCESS CHARGES.

PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT A MEDIGAP PLAN - SELECT WILL LIMIT YOUR CHOICES OF HOSPITALS. IF IT HAS THE WORD SELECT IN THE NAME, YOU MAY NOT WANT IT.

As you can see, there are many things to consider. It all comes down to how much premium you want to pay for coverage you may not need. Some people want it all and don’t mind paying a higher premium per month to get it. All Medicare Supplements pay the 20% of all your doctor and hospital bills that Medicare does not cover with their 80%. You can decide if you want all the extras, or maybe you don’t mind rolling up your own windows or not having heated leather seats. It is up to you!!

At My Part D USA we can consult with you and help you choose the plan that would be best for you based on YOUR NEEDS and DESIRES. We can also help you get your Supplement, no matter what Plan you choose at the lowest prices.

MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS should be avoided, unless you cannot pay the monthly premium on Original Medicare combined with a Medicare Supplement/Medigap Plan.

ONE THING TO REMEMBER ON ADVANTAGE PLANS IS DOCTORS SOMETIMES CHARGE THE EXTRA 15% THAT THEY CAN LEGALLY CHARGE PEOPLE ON MEDICARE OVER THE MEDICARE FIXED ALLOWANCE FOR AN ILLNESS. MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN DO NOT PAY ANY OF THESE EXCESS CHARGES!!!! THAT IS WHY PEOPLE HAVE MORE OUT OF POCKET COSTS WITH ADVANTAGE PLANS AND DO NOT GET THE COVERAGE THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE GETTING, PLUS THEY STILL HAVE ALL THE CO-PAYS AND DEDUCTIBLES. NOW WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT THIS??? THAT COMBINED WITH THE FACT THAT YOUR DOCTOR AND HOSPITALS WILL NOT BE CONTRACTED TO TAKE AN ADVANTAGE PLAN’S TERMS OF PAYMENT FROM ONE VISIT TO THE NEXT, IT IS NOT WISE THAT ANYONE WOULD JOIN AN ADVANTAGE PLAN UNLESS THEY COULD NOT AFFORD A MEDIGAP PLAN OR THEY WERE DISABLED AND COULD NOT GET ANY OTHER KIND OF COVERAGE.That is what we recommend and we are standing by this. Keep in mind that you will be approached by many Medicare Advantage Plan salespersons, telling you that their plan is better than Original Medicare, BUT they do not compare against Original Medicare with a Traditional Medicare Supplement. There are many co-pays and hoops to jump through.

THAT IS WHY I CALL THE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS THE FORD PINTO OF MEDICARE COVERAGE - - IT JUST MIGHT BLOW UP ON YOU!!

You have worked hard and deserve the BEST COVERAGE!

When you come off your retirement plan you only have 63 days from the end of your group plan to get a Medicare Supplement with NO UNDERWRITING. This is the only time you will have NO HEALTH QUESTIONS ASKED AND A GUARANTEED ENROLLMENT ON THE PLAN OF YOUR CHOICE!

PLEASE CALL US TOLL FREE AS WE WOULD BE HONORED TO ASSIST YOU IN GETTING YOUR MEDIGAP AND PART D DRUG PLAN FOR 2009!!

QUESTION:  I have always had a Group Health and Drug Policy through my retirement plan with my employer.  I have been told that when I join a Medicare Plan I will need to re-enroll and re-evaluate my Medicare Plan each year as I did with my group health.  Is this true?

ANSWER:  No sir, this is not true in most cases.  If you join a Medicare Supplement plan, as I have advised the people who are losing retirement group health benefits, you will not need to ever re-enroll or re-evaluate your Medicare Supplement.  Medicare Supplement benefits never change.  They are regulated by the Centers for Medicare.  They all contain the exact same benefits, no matter if you get a AARP, Bankers Life, Mutual of Omaha, BC/BS etc…They all are the same benefits.  A plan F is a plan F or a plan J is a plan J no matter where you get it or what carrier you choose to enroll with.  The only difference is the price you will pay in your monthly premiums.  So you should MAKE SURE YOU GET A COMPARISON OF SUPPLEMENT PRICES FROM DIFFERENT CARRIERS AND ENROLL WITH AN A-RATED COMPANY.  There are some Medicare Supplement carriers out there that are B-Rated.  Please do not consider these companies.  The only exception of re-evaluating your Medicare Supplement Policy would be to get a lower premium.  That is why you should GET a good rate up front!!! 

YOU CAN NEVER BE CANCELLED FOR HEALTH REASONS ON YOUR MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT POLICY.  YOU ARE GUARANTEED COVERAGE FOR LIFE WITH NO RE-ENROLLMENT TO WORRY ABOUT EACH YEAR!  THE ONLY WAY TO LOSE YOUR POLICY IS FOR NON-PAYMENT OR YOU WISH TO CANCEL YOUR POLICY!

I can understand why you would be confused since you had to re-evaluate your group policy each year.  The group health companies change their benefits and prices each year, so you should have had the opportunity to re-evaluate them each year and make changes.

If you choose to join a MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN, going against all my best advice, these can and do change.  You can jump from one MAPD to the next.  They may be hoping that you do, because each year they would get a brand spanking new commission every time you changed.  If a Medicare Advantage Plan is not making money in a certain area, they can decide to cancel coverage there.  I have seen that many times.  They do have lower premium rates than Medicare Supplements, but folks, remember that you get what you pay for, especially in this case.

The only part of your Medicare coverage you will need to look into each year is your Part D drug plan.  These plans DO CHANGE EVERY YEAR.  You will need to get a comparison each year to make sure the plan you are on still covers every one of your prescriptions and at the lowest co-pays and premiums.  Don’t let this upset you, because we have them online every year and you can get this in 5 minutes or you can go to Medicare.gov and get one there as well.

QUESTION:  I have been told that a Medicare Advantage Plan does not ask any health questions, but a Medicare Supplement does ask health questions.  Why is this and wouldn’t it be easier to get a Medicare Advantage plan since they do not ask questions?

ANSWER:  The only questions Medicare Advantage Plans ask about is end stage renal disease, they do not take people with kidney failure.  That is why these plans are good for people on disability or for people who can absolutely NOT afford the premium on a Medicare Supplement Policy.  It is a risky plan.  There are just too many variables involved, such as your doctor can accept a Medicare Advantage Plan at one appointment and refuse it at your next appointment.  They have no set network of doctors or hospitals that quarantee you THEY WILL accept their terms of payment.  You see, Medicare does not pay your doctors and hospitals on a Medicare Advantage Plan.  The actual Insurance Company does it.  That is why many doctors and hospitals will not take the risk of NOT GETTING PAID BY THE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN.  SO, LADIES AND GENTELMAN, I ASK YOU…….WHY WOULD YOU TAKE THAT RISK?????

With a Medicare Supplement Plan you have a 63 day guaranteed enrollment with NO HEALTH QUESTIONS ASKED AND NO PRE-EXISTING EXCLUSIONS.  That is why we tell you to get one NOW.  After your 63 days you will go through underwriting and may get turned down for health reasons. 

So to answer your question, if you take my advice and go ahead and get a Medicare Supplement now, it is JUST AS EASY to get the best coverage. 

I’d like to say “Thank YOU”, to everyone who has written in to me the last week or so with all the kind and thoughtful words of appreciation for the BLOG.  It means so much to me that you have found the information helpful. 

My Part D USA’s main objective is to be a useful resource for helping you make good decisions regarding your Part D drug plans and health coverage during this confusing time of decision making. 

Medicare has become more confusing the last few years and I get letters everyday from people telling me how hard it is to know the best thing for them.  We are not in competition with anyone else that you may talk to about Medicare.  Our #1 goal is to equip you with he most comprehensive information we have available from our many years of service to Medicare benficiaries, and tell you things that you may not hear from other salespeople. 

I have found that you can be honest and work for the people and still make a living in this dog eat dog economy.  So many companies try to be successful doing what is best for them, instead of what is best for others.  I don’t understand that mind set.  To me it seems so much easier to just do the “right thing”. 

No matter who you choose to work with to get your drug plan and health coverage, please take the advice on the BLOG to heart.  We wish everyone involved with Medicare enrollments the very best, it is not to our advantage to downgrade anyone.  I just wanted to pose questions that you should ask and then it is up to you to evaluate what you consider best for you!!  Now you know what questions to ask and what to look for, no matter where you go or who you talk with for your enrollment needs. 

Questions to ask your healthcare rep:

1.  Can you give me a Part D Plan comparison of plans based on my individual prescriptions and show me the actual  co-pays and premiums of each plan to save the most money?  There are at least 50 plans in each state, all with different co-pays for each drug. 

2.  Do you have a comparison of Medicare Supplement prices for several companies in my State?  Remember all the benefits will be the same, don’t get sold on a company name.

3.  What is the comparison between a Medicare Advantage Plan against staying on Original Medicare combined with a Medicare Supplement and a Stand Alone Part D Plan?  Remember, if they tell you that a Medicare Advantage Plan is better than Original Medicare, that is not the comparison you need!!  If you are considering joining a Medicare Advantage Plan, remember that you may not be able to get anything else after your 63 days of open enrollment without going through underwriting and possibly getting turned down for health reasons.

4.  If you are talking to me about joining a Medicare Advantage Plan with a built in Part D drug plan, can you give me a comparison of the stand alone plans to make sure the MAPD’s plan will save me the most money and cover my drugs?, or can I get a Medicare Advantage plan and still have my choice of Part D drug plans?  Remember, if you really want a Medicare Advantage plan, even after all my warnings, you need to get one that does NOT have a built in Part D plan, so at least you can save the most on your drugs.

You need Two Different Policies:

1.  Lowest Price Med Sup Policy

2.  Part D drug plan that covers meds at lowest prices

Again, I thank you for reading the blog.  Just let me know if you need a copy of the Walmart list for $4 generics. 

I wanted to go over several things we discussed at the meeting in Ohio last Wednesday.  We also wanted to thank Tony Landers, Pat Moylan and Rosie Janus for inviting us to visit with you.  Also, a thank you must go to Paul Hansen, HR Director for 42 years at the Lordstown Plant, for putting us in touch with such a great group of Retirees.

The first speaker was a local pharmacist, Zen Forosty.  I was more than thrilled when I heard him talk about the very drug savings tips I have been writing about all year.  It means so much when a professional person gives such good advice and I’m sure people will have much more confidance in hearing it from him than from little ‘ole me. 

Here is the LIST OF TOP 10 TIPS TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS FOR HEALTHCARE AND DRUG SAVINGS.

1.  Not all Part D plans are the same.  There are over 50 plans in each state. 

2.  A ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL approach is very dangerous. 

3.  You must choose your drug plan based on your individual needs and the actual drug names that you use.  If you take a generic, look up the generic name.

4.  You must do a comparison of the drug plans based on the drugs you take.  You can do your own pencil work or we can help you do this during the AEP, beginning Nov. 15 - Dec. 31st.

5.  Beginning January 1, 2009, buy as many of your drugs OFF THE PART D PLAN as possible.  Over 400 drugs are listed on Wal-Marts generic drug list for $4 for a 30 day supply.  You can also go to other large retailers if you don’t like Wal-Mart.  I WILL EMAIL YOU THIS LIST IF YOU WRITE ME WITH A REQUEST.  This tip will keep you OUT of the “DREADED DONUT HOLE” longer in 2009.  Please read my other blogs with details of how to do this!

6.  When your doctor prescribes a new medication for you, as him for samples FIRST, or as a very helpful lady at the meeting told me, get a 5 or 10 day supply.  The reason for this is, you may not be able to take the new med because of the side effects or it may simply not work for you.  Every prescription you purchase goes TOWARD YOUR FALLING INTO THE “DREADED DONUT HOLE”.  So don’t get a full prescription until you know you will be taking this medication.  Please read my other blogs about drug savings tips.

7.  Make SURE YOU GET A MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT FIRST, before you choose a MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN.

8.  You have what is called a 63 day Guarantee Issue Period in which to choose a Medicare Supplement with NO HEALTH QUESTIONS ASKED, and NO PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS EXCLUDED.

9.  Remember a Plan F is a Plan F, a Plan J is a Plan J, no matter which insurance company you choose.  All these Medicare Supplement Plans are regulated by the Centers for Medicare and contain the exact SAME BENEFITS!  The only difference is the price you will pay for your premium, and folks there is no sense in paying more than you absolutely must pay to these insurance companies!

10.  If you get a MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN first, you will FORFEIT your right to get a Medicare Supplement with no underwriting!  In order to have a 12 month FREE-LOOK period, you must first have had a Medicare Supplement policy before joining a Medicare Advantage Plan.  Ladies & Gentleman, some of you may think you want to try out a Medicare Advantage Plan.  That is fine and good and your right to choose whatever plan is best for you.  HOWEVER, PLEASE KNOW THAT YOU NEED TO GET A MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT FIRST, SO IF YOU DON’T LIKE THE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN, YOU STILL RETAIN YOUR RIGHT TO GET BACK ON YOUR SUPPLEMENT WITH NO UNDERWRITING.   You could be turned down for health reasons if you join a MAD first.  Don’t let this happen to you and your family.  The Medicare Advantage Plans will not and do not tell you about this VERY IMPORTANT CHOICE TO HELP YOU MAKE THE BEST DECISION.  As I said before, you may ask yourself, why WILL THEY NOT TELL US?……IT MAY BE BECAUSE THEY GET PAID MORE.  The commissions on these MA Plan’s are at least double than if they helped you get a Med Sup first. 

I have been very concerned that GM Retirees will join plans that may be harmful for them because of the aggressive marketing of the Medicare Advantage Plans.  We have tried to get in touch with as many Retirees as possible, but of course we don’t have any way to do that and just rely on them coming to the website.

It truly is a sad day in our country when this kind of marketing is allowed, just like the crash of the housing markets, the Medicare system is going to fail if it does not get more regulations to make sure our Greatest Generation such as you GM Retirees do not have to be confused about the best coverage for you and your families!!!  I could go on and on, but will get off my soap box now.   

QUESTION:  I am losing my group health coverage with General Motors, 1-1-2009, that I have had since I retired. Now I must find a Medicare Supplement and make sure my benefits are as good as what I had.  How do I compare these plans, it is so confusing?

ANSWER:  We have been contacted by hundreds of General Motors retirees about this very subject.  Keep in mind you will only have 63 days to get your Medicare Supplement with no underwriting on a guarenteed issue basis.  Let me run down the best Medicare Supplement plans and what they do and do not cover for you.

Plan J - This is the Cadillac of Medicare Supplement Plans.  Some people like to pay for all the bells and whisles even though they may possibly not need them, just to have that extra luxury.  Plan J has everything all the other plan have plus the following: 

Prevenative Care - This is an extra $120.00 per year for prevenative care such as a physical.  However, if you have any health issues your doctor will do all the bloodwork anyway and you will end up getting the equivalent service.

Home Heath Care - This is $40 per day up to $1,600.00 of unskilled care per year, such as bathing, household chores.  If you need this type of care you are probably getting skilled care as well and this is covered under other less expensive plans.  You can’t get much for $40 a day these days.

Excess Charges - Plan J will cover 100% of any charges over the limit that Medicare allows for your illness that your doctor bills you.  However, 99% of the time, your doctor will only charge you what he is allowed to charge you under Medicare rules.

Part B Deductile - There is a $135.00 yearly deductible on a Medicare Supplement.  Plan J covers this for you, however, you may be paying more in premium for this $135 than it is worth.

Plan F - Plan F is the Oldsmobile of Medicare Supplements.  It covers everything plan J covers except the following:

Home Heath Care  - $1,600.00 per year

Preventative Care - $120 per year

Plan G - Plan G is the Chevrolet of Medicare Supplements.  It is the most cost effective plan if paying the premium is an issue for you, yet it still has good coverage.  Plan G has everything including Home Heath Care except:

Prevenative Care - $120 per year

Excess Charge Coverage - This plan does pay for 80% of excess charges.  Which will be more than sufficient in most cases.

Part B Deductible Coverage - Keep in mind that if you want your plan to pay for the $135 a year deductible you may be paying more in premium than it is worth.

 As you can see, there are many things to consider.  It all comes down to how much premium you want to pay for coverage you may not need.  Some people want it all and don’t mind paying a higher premium per month to get it.  All Medicare Supplements pay the 20% of all your doctor and hospital bills that Medicare does not cover with their 80%.  You can decide if you want all the extras, or maybe you don’t mind rolling up your own windows or not having heated leather seats.  It is up to you!!

At My Part D USA we can consult with you and help you choose the plan that would be best for you based on YOUR NEEDS and DESIRES.  We can also help you get your Supplement, no matter what Plan you choose at the lowest prices.

 MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS should be avoided, unless you cannot pay the monthly premium on Original Medicare combined with a Medicare Supplement.  That is what we recommend and we are standing by this.  Keep in mind that you will be approached by many Medicare Advantage Plan salespersons, telling you that their plan is better than Original Medicare, BUT they do not compare against Original Medicare with a Traditional Medicare Supplement.  There are many co-pays and hoops to jump through. 

You have worked hard and deserve the BEST COVERAGE!

When you come off your retirement plan you only have 63 days from the end of your group plan to get a Medicare Supplement with NO UNDERWRITING.  This is the only time you will have NO HEALTH QUESTIONS ASKED AND A GUARANTEED ENROLLMENT ON THE PLAN OF YOUR CHOICE!

 If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan instead, you may never have another change to get a Traditional Medicare Supplement without going through underwriting and possibly turned down for health reasons.

I hope this answer helped you understand your options.  You can write to me, Karyn Blake, with any other questions and I will be glad to find an answer for you!

 Call us today toll free at:  866-752-1795

We hear from people everyday that are just turning 65, or losing their retirement benefits and need to find out what their benefits are with Medicare.

IMPORTANT: You have 6 months before, the month of, and 6 months after you turn 65 to get your Medicare Supplement with NO UNDERWRITING! That means that no matter what your health situation is…you cannot be turned down for coverage. If you are losing your retirement benefits you have 63 days to get coverage with NO UNDERWRITING. This is the only time in your life when you can get coverage that is guaranteed no matter what your health issues may be!!

Last week a lady called in to say that she was on a High Risk Insurance Plan because of her health conditions and her insurance agent told her she should KEEP this coverage because she could not qualify for anything else. She was paying over $4,500 per year for this plan. THANK GOODNESS SHE CALLED US!!! We told her that because she was in her Open Enrollment period for Medicare she could get covered for $112.00 per month, a savings of several thousand dollars a year!!!

If you are on retirement benefits from your company, you may be paying much more than you need to for your coverage. Many times the company retirment benefits are more expensive than if you were covered individually. The reason for that is the insurance company rates the “group”, so you may be paying for your co-workers health issues. If you are turning 65, get more information before you take what is offered by your company.

You can call us toll free at 866-752-1795. We can walk you through understanding your situation and help you save as much as possible on your Medicare coverage.

46 Million and counting….

Over 46 million Americans are already enrolled and receiving benefits through Medicare. Because Medicare does not pay for all health care services, only 80%, you have the option of buying a Medigap policy (Medicare Supplement) to cover the gaps or the other 20%. Medicare Supplements are offered by private insurance companies.

All supplement plans are the same from each company and regulated by Medicare. The only difference is, some companies will charge you a HIGHER premium than other companies, you could find yourself paying double the premium someone else is paying for the exact same benefits!

This is where My Part D USA can help! We will shop the marketplace in your state and find the lowest priced plan with a reputable company.

You should never own more than one Medicare Supplement. If you decide to change supplements, DO NOT CANCEL until you are approved on the new plan.

When you retire and need a Medigap policy, there is an open enrollment period of 6 months. This means the insurance company cannot turn you down NO MATTER WHAT! They cannot refuse to write you a policy because of your medical history or claims, nor can they charge you more because of your health problems. THAT IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO FIND THE BEST POLICY WITH THE LOWEST PRICES IN CASE YOU DEVELOP HEALTH ISSUES IN THE FUTURE!

My Part D USA can guide you though this important time, making sure you get the best for less!

There are many things to consider when choosing a plan:

1.Does your Doctor take assignment? This means that Medicare has a set price for certain procedures and most doctors accept that amount for payment. If you doctor does not take assignment, you can choose another doctor or choose a plan that will cover the additional expense your doctor will charge.

2. Do you want to keep , and be able to choose your own doctor? Or, can you accept changing your doctor or hospital because they are not on the list of a Medicare Advantage Plan? When you decide against a Traditional Medicare Supplement and choose a Medicare Advantage Plan, (refer to the other blogs on the left side of the home page on MAP’s) you will lose the ability to pick your Doctor or Hospitals, and sometimes even your pharmacy. The Doctors and Hospitals must agree to accept the terms of payment from the MAP, and the doctor can refuse to accept it at any time.

With a Traditional Supplement you can see any doctor or hospital in any state and know your benefits will cover you.

3.Will you be needing the Foreign Travel Benefit?If you will be doing trips abroad during your retirement, it may be necessary to include this in your Medicare Supplement.

When you shop for your new or replacement Supplement these are just a few of the important things to remember. My Part D USA will take all this into consideration when we recommend the best plan for you.

Please fill out the worksheet or call us at 866-752-1795 to get started!

On Monday Oct. 1, 2007, Medicare released the new premium rates for 2008. Medicare’s standard monthly premium is rising to $96.40 in 2008 a 3.1% increase from last year but it is the smallest increase in 6 years. Medicare’s Part B program covers health care for 43 million senior and disabled people in the USA. The Deductible for part B is $131 in 2007 and will rise to $135 for 2008.

Also, the deductible for Part A is also increasing in 2008. When a beneficairy is admitted to the hospital they will pay a Part A deductible of $1,024 in 2008 up from $992 in 2007. The agency gave reasons for the increase that included the rising cost of home health care and physician-administered drugs, ambulatory surgical center services, medical equipment, doctor’s office lab services amoung others.

Medicare is raising the premiums for those make $80,000 a year or more as well. This will affect 5% of people with part B coverage.

Even with this increase Medicare recipients are still getting better services than ever before.

For Help with Medicare Supplements or Medicare Advantage Plans go to:www.MyPartDusa.com