Medicare Offers Smallest Rise in Premium in 6 Years
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
