Idea from DC to “Save Medicare”, Combine Medicare A and B into one Plan

Idea from DC to “Save Medicare”, Combine Medicare A and B into one Plan:

President Obama and Congress are looking into a proposal from 2010. The Bowles-Simpson Commission proposed to combine Parts A and B into a $550 deductible and 20% coinsurance rate with $7,500 out-of-pocket maximum. This looks familiar, “Holy Medicare Advantage Plan Batman!”

Can’t beat Medicare Advantage Plans, I guess the Government wants join them. Medicare Advantage Plans are structured very similar to most “Employer Group Insurance Plans”.  I like idea of structuring Original Medicare this way, it might make the transition to Medicare simpler for people as they retire.

Impact to Medicare Advantage Plans:

IF this happens, I would look for Medicare Advantage Plan organizations to strength their HMO Network Plans. Medicare does not have a “Network”, so the benefits will be standard. In contrast, private companies offering MAPD Plans, may be able to partner and offer comparatively strong benefits within an HMO.

Impacts on Medicare Supplement Plans:

IF this happens, I anticipate a competitive environment. Obviously the benefits for each of the Medicare Supplement Plans would have to be restructured completely, but Medicare could still regulate a set of standardized Plans that offer a different degree of coverage. The Supplement premiums should be more affordable too because Medicare would include a max out of pocket, which would limit the insurance companies exposure.

Again, this is just one of the ideas floating around Washington, if you would like to know more about Medicare and/or Obamacare please read my articles, or contact me.

Robert Bache aka “MedicareBob”

Bob@MedicareBob.com

1-800-525-0299

http://youtu.be/YYAx_L9S8EA

President Obama wants to TAX Medicare Supplement Plan F

President Obama wants to TAX Medicare Supplement Plan F

President Obama proposes a 15% surcharge on new buyers of Medicare Supplement Plan F to discourage seniors from buying plans that have first-dollar coverage.

Robert Bache aka MedicareBob’s Reaction:

Emotional: “President Obama, PLEASE LEAVE PLAN F ALONE!!!

One of the biggest misconceptions is that Medicare Supplement Plan F is purchased only by the “wealthy” Medicare Beneficiary.  This is just not true! Some seniors purchase Plan F because they are not wealthy, and they are on a limited fixed income. For some of these Medicare Beneficiaries, they prefer to budget $120 per month for their Medicare Supplement Plan F and know that they do not have any unexpected medical bills.

In my experience, seniors on a limited fixed income typically have their monthly budget accounted for, and some of them would prefer to pay/budget for the Plan F, and in return make their most unpredictable cost a fixed cost, which is their healthcare.

Professional: Both sides of the Isle and President Obama seem to believe in what is referred to as “over utilization”. “Over utilization”, is the belief that if a Medicare Beneficiary has Medicare and the Medicare Supplement Plan F (first dollar coverage), they are more likely to use their health insurance more often, and in return requiring Medicare to pay more claims.

I can appreciate this argument, but I also thought that the Government supported “preventing” over “treating”. On one day the Government is states that they want people to go to the Doctor more often because it is cheaper to prevent health issues than it is to treat them for people who wait to go to the Doctor. Now the Government is trying to tax people that choose to purchase a Plan that allows them to go as often as they want…

 Closing: President Obama, PLEASE LEAVE PLAN F ALONE!!! Medicare Supplement Plan F is not the problem with Medicare.

Dear President Obama, I have helped over 4,000 people within the last 3 years with choosing which type of Medicare coverage is best for them. I would be more than happy to meet with you and provide any input that I can, because I do agree that we have to “Reform” Medicare, but taxing people that have a Medicare Supplement Plan F is not the answer.

Robert Bache aka MedicareBob

1-800-525-0299

Bob@MedicareBob.com

Obamacare is working, Medicare Solvent through 2026

Obamacare is working, Medicare Solvent through 2026:

 

The Medicare Trustees today projected that the trust fund that finances Medicare’s hospital insurance coverage will remain solvent until 2026, two years beyond what was projected in last year’s report.

“The Medicare Hospital Insurance trust fund is projected to be solvent for longer, which is good news for beneficiaries,” said Marilyn Tavenner, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). “Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, we are taking important steps to improve the delivery of care for seniors with Medicare. These reforms aim to reduce spending while improving the quality of care, and are an important down payment on solving Medicare’s long term financial issues.” 

A number of factors have contributed to the improved outlook, including lower-than-expected Part A spending in 2012, and lower projected Medicare Advantage program costs. Recent data from the Medicare Advantage program indicate that certain provisions of the Affordable Care Act will help reduce the growth of spending in this program by more than was previously projected. Partially offsetting these lower spending projections are somewhat lower projected levels of tax revenue.

 Medicare spending per beneficiary has grown quite slowly over the past few years and is projected to continue growing slowly over the next several years.  From 2010 to 2012, Medicare spending per beneficiary grew at 1.7 percent annually, more slowly than the average rate of growth in the Consumer Price Index, and substantially more slowly than the per capita rate of growth in the economy.  Thanks in part to the cost controls implemented in the Affordable Care Act, spending is projected to continue to grow slower than the overall economy for the next several years.

The benefits of this slower growth accrue to both tax payers and beneficiaries. For example, although the Part B premium for 2014 will not be determined until later this year, the preliminary estimate in the Report indicates that it will remain unchanged from the 2013 premium.
 

Background: 

In 2012, Medicare covered 50.7 million people: 42.1 million people aged 65 and older, and 8.5 million people with disabilities. About 27 percent of these beneficiaries have chosen to enroll in Part C private health plans that contract with Medicare to deliver Part A and Part B health services. Total expenditures in 2012 were $574.2 billion. Total income was $536.9 billion. 

The Medicare Trustees are Treasury Secretary and Managing Trustee Jacob Lew, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Acting Labor Secretary Seth Harris, and Acting Social Security Commissioner Carolyn Colvin. Two other members are public representatives who are appointed by the President, subject to confirmation by the Senate. Charles Blahous III and Robert Reischauer began serving on Sept. 17, 2010.   CMS Administrator Tavenner, is designated as Secretary of the Board.

 

Robert Bache aka MedicareBob

Bob@MedicareBob.com

www.MedicareBob.com

 

Source: www.cms.gov.

MedicareAdvantage Plans are Changing

Medicare Advantage Plans are Changing

Obamacare includes some changes to the Medicare Advantage program:

• Starting January 2014, Medicare Advantage plans will be held to a minimum loss ratio of 85%

• Requires restructuring the funding levels to Medicare Advantage plans in order to reduce payments closer to traditional Medicare (i.e. remove the 14% “overpayment” to Medicare Advantage)

            1)  Congressional Budget Office estimates this will cut $145 billion over 10 years

           2)  The payment restructuring was designed to be implemented in 2011.

• However, in 2012 CMS expanded “quality” payments to Medicare Advantage plans through a demonstration program (outside of Obamacare) that effectively mitigated most of the impact of the Medicare Advantage funding cuts from Obamacare.  The demonstration program is targeted to continue through 2014, at which time the additional bonus payments will end unless other measures are put in place.

MedicareBob’s explanation:

Medicare Advantage Plans are receiving less money from the Government, therefore the insurance companies are going to have to do better with less money. I look for the smaller Medicare Advantage companies to either go out of business, or be purchased by one of the bigger insurance companies.

Examples: Care Improvement Plus has been purchased by United Healthcare, and Coventry has been purchased by Aetna.

What does this mean to people one Medicare Advantage Plans?

·         Less options

·         Less benefits

·         Maybe more of a monthly premium

The days of paying a $0.00 premium and receiving a rich Medicare Advantage Plan are ending soon. However, when you compare the benefits and premium of a Medicare Advantage Plan to an Employer or Private insurance Plan, Medicare Advantage Plans are still typically going to offer better coverage. Medicare Advantage Plans over the next few years should still offer good benefits for a low monthly premium.

 

I posted a 1:20 video on YouTube about this topic as well; "Is Obamacare Destroying Obamacare?"

Robert Bache aka “MedicareBob”

Cell Phone:1-800-525-0299

www.MedicareBob.com

Medicare Part D Extra Help

Medicare Part D, get "Extra Help" with paying for your Medications?

Medicare Part D has programs that help people pay for their prescription drug costs.

If you are on Medicare Part A, Medicare Part B, and Medicare Part D, you may qualify to receive your Generic Medications for only $2.65 and you’re Brand Name Medications for only $6.60.

Every year the requirements change, I have posted the 2013 Medicare requirements on my website,

www.MedicareBob.com/PartDExtraHelp

Robert W. Bache AKA MedicareBob
1-855-368-4717 or 727-643-0219
Bob@MedicareBob.com
www.SrHealthcareDirect.com

Virginia Medicare Supplement Rate Increase

Virginia Medicare Supplement Rate Increase

Aetna's Underwriting company, American Continental Insurance Company (ACI) is raising their Medicare Supplement Plan F and Plan N premiums by 9.9% effective July 1st 2013 in Virginia.

What You Need To Know:

• A 9.9% rate increase is approved for all currently marketed (open block) plans (except Plan G, which has no rate adjustment), effective July 1, 2013. 
• ACI Medicare Supplement plans offer a 12-month rate guarantee.
• For affected policyholders, the rate increase will become effective on the policyholder's next Policy Anniversary Date that occurs on or after July 1, 2013.

For more questions, or to shop your Virginia Medicare Supplement price, contact MedicareBob.

 

Robert Bache AKA MedicareBob

1-866-368-4717

Bob@MedicareBob.com

www.SrHealthcareDirect.com

Medicare Advantage Plan that is an "HMO"

Medicare Advantage Plan that is an "HMO".

A Medicare Advantage Plan that is an "HMO" requires you to receive your healthcare from a network / list of approved Providers.

• The monthly premium is generally $0.00.
• The benefits are typically very strong.
• You can still receive care anywhere in the County as long as it is an emergency.

Go to www.MedicareBob.com today to receive a list of the Medicare Advantage Plans in your County.

Robert W. Bache
1-855-368-4717
www.MedicareBob.com
www.SrHealthcareDirect.com

Obamacare Changes Medicare Part B

Obamacare changes Medicare Part B

Obamacare has added more Preventive Service to Medicare Part B.

• Bone mass measurements
• Cardiovascular disease screenings
• Cervical and vaginal cancer screening
• Mammograms
• Physicals
• Flu Shot

For a complete listing of all of the added Preventive Services that are now being covered by Medicare Part B, Click Here and/or go to www.SrHealthcareDirect.com or www.MedicareBob.com

Do you have a Medicare Question? Please call or email me:
Robert@SrHealthcareDirect.com
Toll Free: 1-855-368-4717
Cell Phone: 727-643-0219

Posted By: Robert W. Bache, please call me MedicareBob.

Obamacare Changes Medicare Part D

Obamacare changes Medicare Part D:

Obamacare has reduced what Medicare Beneficiaries are required to pay when they enter the "Donut Hole"

Example: For a Brand Name Medication that costs $200.00.

PAST 2012: Once the Medicare Beneficiary entered the “Donut Hole”, the person had to pay $100.00 for a 30 day supply.

PRESENT 2013: This year when the Medicare Beneficiary enters the “Donut Hole”, they pay$95.00 for a 30 day supply.

FUTURE 2020: When a Medicare Beneficiary enters the “Donut Hole”, the cost will only be $50.00 for a 30 day supply.

CLICK HERE to read the whole story, and to review table of the year by year Medicare Part D changes.

CLICK HERE to see Video of this Blog

Do you have a specific Medicare Question?

If so, please e-mail me directly:

robert@srhealthcaredirect.com