Medicare Benefits changing

Every new year there are changes to the Medicare Supplement Plans benefits. This year there are many more benefits because of the new law that congress passed in 2010. The one issue that affects everyone is the premium for Medicare Part B. Since there was no inflation and no COLA increase for social security, premiums for Part B will remain the same with a base of $96.04 (individuals with income less than 85,000) each month that is generally taken from the social security check. For individuals with incomes of more than 214,000, the Part B premium is $369.10.

Part B will have an increase in deductibles if people only have Medicare without supplements or Medicare Advantage plans. Annual deductibles will go from $155 to $162. The Part A deductible will increase from $1100 for a 60 day hospital stay to $1132. If you have supplements or Medicare Advantage plans, these changes won't affect you.

The prescription drug Part D donut hole will also have an added benefit. The donut hole is on most Part D programs where you lose copayments for name brand drugs. The donut hole starts at $2840 of annual costs and goes to $4550 before benefits pick back up again on your Medicare. As of 2011, any name brand prescription drug you get if you fall in the donut hole, you will get a 50% discount on that name brand drug.

The last major change of Medicare Insurance for 2011 is free preventive care screenings. This benefit is not available for people on Medicare Advantage plans because their benefits are managed differently. But for people on Medicare or with a Medicare Supplement, they will be able to get routine screenings for free (such as flu shots, pneumonia vaccines, cholesterol screenings, mammograms, cervical cancer screenings and bone-mass measurement at no additional cost).