Will Medicare Change Much in 2010?
Some beneficiaries will not notice a big change while others may be affected. That is because the documented differences between 2009 and 2010 will only affect certain members, and not all of them.
Online Medicare Health Plan Information Sources
Of course, you have a couple of ways to find more information online. The US government keeps medicare.gov as a very good resource for consumers and agents all across the USA. You can also use a Medicare health plan quote form to find the plans and professionals in your local area.
Changes to Medicare Supplements
You probably have heard about all of the different levels of Medigap or Medicare Supplement health insurance plans. They have letters, like Plan A, B, C, etc. This should not be cofused with Part A, Part B, which are the parts of original Medicare that most seniors and many disabled people use as their public health option.
Some plans will no longer be marketed to new business, though apparently existing members can keep them. And two new plans (Plan M and Plan N) are being introduced. These are both similar to Plan F, but either require copays or high deductible payments, and so they should have lower premiums.
All Medicare Supplement plans will include hospice care, but some preventative and home recovery benefits are scheduled to be removed.
It is important for Medigap members to understand these changes so they know how their health care will be affected. If any of the affected people are unhappy with these changes, it is also important to be able to explore options.
Medicare Part B Premiums
Almost all beneficiaries do pay a premium for Part B. This will not change for most people who already had this sum deducted from their social security checks. New Medicare beneficiaries, and those with a high income, may see a 15% increase. I am sure that the fact that this premium will not increase in 2010 will be welcome news new social security recipients who learned they will not get a raise this year.
Get More Help Understanding Your Health Benefits
As we wrote above, Medicare.gov is a good resource. For a simpler summary you may want to refer to this article – Compare Medicare Health Plans.
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