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MEDICARE RATES
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Government & Elections
MEDICARE RATES
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I just received a Junk email letting me know that our Medicare rates will be raised to: $120.20 in year 2013 and $ 247.00 in year 2014 . It's from a group opposed to the Obamacare Legisla
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Cat:d51398b3-89f9-463d-bf1b-4b885f02c9eeForum:af978875-5bc6-4b07-a6fb-b18062132f95
Cat:d51398b3-89f9-463d-bf1b-4b885f02c9eeForum:af978875-5bc6-4b07-a6fb-b18062132f95Discussion:6c50d91d-f83c-48da-8e42-1f7fed672a94
Forums » Politics & Society » Government & Elections » MEDICARE RATES
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MEDICARE RATES
posted at February 13, 2012 6:17 PM EST
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Posts: 2
First: February 13, 2012 Last: February 13, 2012 |
I just received a Junk email letting me know that our Medicare rates will be raised to: $120.20 in year 2013 and $247.00 in year 2014. It's from a group opposed to the Obamacare Legislation. What I'm trying to find out is how accurate these rates are or is it just a scare tactic. |
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Re: MEDICARE RATES
posted at February 13, 2012 7:52 PM EST
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Posts: 1924
First: November 27, 2011 Last: May 31, 2013 |
In Response to MEDICARE RATES: I just received a Junk email letting me know that our Medicare rates will be raised to: $120.20 in year 2013 and $ 247.00 in year 2014 . It's from a group opposed to the Obamacare Legislation. What I'm trying to find out is how accurate these rates are or is it just a scare tactic. Posted by OldSeaDog33 You probably want a simple answer but NOTHING in our government is simple!!! I assume you are talking about Part B premiums and what you pay is tied to your income if considered a "higher income senior" - OR if you have a (reoccurring) penalty assessed because you did not sign up when you should have. Higher income seniors also pay a higher premium amount for Part D too. Here is an explanation from Medicare (SSA) for 2012 - Medicare Premiums: Rules For Higher-Income BeneficiariesPart B premiums for the majority of seniors are set differently and can rise but I don't think the forcast goes out as far as that email suggest: Part B premiums are adjusted each year (but are tied to COLA) because this is the part of Medicare that ONLY beneficiaries pay for (Doctors) - Part B is not funded from payroll taxes. "By statute, Part B premiums, which are automatically deducted from Social Security checks for those who receive Social Security, must cover 25% of projected Part B costs for aged beneficiaries." So I guess IF all us baby boomers start using a lot of doctor visits and all that preventative and wellness care - yes, Part B premiums for us could rise. Also, this "Doc Payment Fix" has something to do with the premiums too - (read the Congressional Research Report that I linked above). The PPACA (a.k.a. Obamacare) contains these changes: • Freeze the threshold for income-related Medicare Part B premiums for 2011 through 2019, and reduce the Medicare Part D premium subsidy for those with incomes above $85,000/individual and $170,000/couple. (Effective January 1, 2011) The Medicare (Part A - Hospital Insurance) tax rate on wages will increase in 2013 for high income earners and impose a tax rate for this on UNEARNED Income. • Increase the Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) tax rate on wages by 0.9% (from 1.45% to 2.35%) on earnings over $200,000 for individual taxpayers and $250,000 for married couples filing jointly and impose a 3.8% tax on unearned income for higher-income taxpayers (thresholds are not indexed). (Effective Here is a link to the summary: Kaiser Family Foundation: PPACA Summary
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Re: MEDICARE RATES
posted at February 13, 2012 8:15 PM EST
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Posts: 2
First: February 13, 2012 Last: February 13, 2012 |
Thank you GaiL1. Obviously This is for those fortunate enough to have higher income. I'm retired with a pension and S.S. It bothers me that many of these people try to scare others, like me, with half truths. |
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Re: MEDICARE RATES
posted at February 13, 2012 8:46 PM EST
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Posts: 1924
First: November 27, 2011 Last: May 31, 2013 |
In Response to Re: MEDICARE RATES: Thank you GaiL1. Obviously This is for those fortunate enough to have higher income. I'm retired with a pension and S.S. It bothers me that many of these people try to scare others, like me, with half truths. Posted by OldSeaDog33 I think you misunderstood part of my post. YES, Part B premiums can increase even for those with lower incomes because these premiums are tied to "usage" by seniors and those new (wellness / preventative) programs that came about as a result of Obamacare, touted to be "free" to seniors are within Part B. Nothing is actually ever "free" - there is always a payer somewhere. As to the amount of the increases - who knows - that will depend on our legislators and our fellow senior usage of Part B. The more usage, the higher the cost. |
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Re: MEDICARE RATES
posted at February 14, 2012 12:00 PM EST
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Posts: 33
First: December 21, 2011 Last: March 19, 2012 |
In Response to MEDICARE RATES: I just received a Junk email letting me know that our Medicare rates will be raised to: $120.20 in year 2013 and $ 247.00 in year 2014 . It's from a group opposed to the Obamacare Legislation. What I'm trying to find out is how accurate these rates are or is it just a scare tactic. Posted by OldSeaDog33 Let me say, first, that GailL1, gave a pretty good description of Medicare cost, and rightly reflects on the idea that higher income people may have to eventually pay more, and eventually those on medicare will no longer have to pay more to cover those Medicare Advantgage plans! Second, let's be clear that calling the Congressional bill to reform Health care for the better of the American people instead of just big insurers, is NOT Obamacare, which is just another slur against our President. This is no different than Republican LIES against his citizenship, his not being a christian, his not having a birth certificates, his causing Bush's wars and Recession! Anyone dumb enough to believe or repeat these lies is pretty much anti-American without enough common sense to know right from wrong! Finally, I think your first instincts were correct, that such unwanted anonimous e-mails should be treated like what they are! Junk mail and Garbage! Don't be surprised if you have received harmful viruses. That comes from being too involved with Republican Tea-Baggers! |
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Re: MEDICARE RATES
posted at February 14, 2012 1:46 PM EST
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Posts: 1924
First: November 27, 2011 Last: May 31, 2013 |
In Response to Re: MEDICARE RATES: In Response to MEDICARE RATES : . . . . . . such unwanted anonimous e-mails should be treated like what they are! Junk mail and Garbage! Don't be surprised if you have received harmful viruses. That comes from being too involved with Republican Tea-Baggers! Posted by papabob Just for a little clarity: In most every other description of the "rich" or "high income" during the Obama administration, we have seen the number description of "over $ 200,000 or over $ 250,000 (couple)" or even the terms, "millionaires and billionaires". So have you ever thought to wonder why in Medicare, high income seniors are described as those with incomes over "$ 85, 000"? Medicare Part B is voluntary; you are not forced to take it or pay for it. Those seniors with higher incomes (whatever their definition) could decide to pay for their doctor and other Part B coverage out of pocket and thus forego Part B coverage all together. Since Medicare Part B coverage is not covered by payroll taxes, then it becomes the financial responsibility of all of those who have Part B Medicare coverage to fund this program up to the law limit of 25% of the proposed cost. It is true that once you are within the system of Medicare, you have some protection of the cost of the program under the "hold harmless" section of the law but those entering the system for the 1st time do not have this protection. I believe that is where those numbers in the email are coming from in this regards. It is NOT that current beneficiaries will have an increase of Part B premiums without a corresponding COLA as the current law requires BUT that newly enrolled beneficiaries will have escalated Part B premiums since they are NOT protected . . . . . and who knows at what level they may just not pick up Part B and pay for that coverage out of pocket or have a concierge arrangement with their doctor which might be more attractive to them. We need to be very careful here if this benefit is valuable to seniors of ALL income levels cause without the high income ones onboard in Part B, all seniors who pay anything could be asked to pay more and more and more . . . . . . . The following Congressional Research Report from Oct 2010, changed some when the numbers came in for 2011 but the actual concept is still intact and since more services were added (wellness) in this Part B coverage in 2011 and since the reduction in doctor's fees were included (and now government wants to stop them) - who knows what the forecast will be going forward. Link: Congressional Research Service Report October 2010: Interactions Between the Social Security COLA and Medicare Part B Premiums "Because there will be no COLA in 2011, those who were held harmless in 2010 would continue to be held harmless at the $96.40 level in 2011. Those beneficiaries who became eligible for Medicare and/or Social Security for the first time in 2010 (i.e., they had no history prior to 2010 with both the Medicare and Social Security programs) and who paid a premium of $110.50 would be protected by the hold harmless provision at that level in 2011. An additional category of beneficiaries, those new to the program in 2011, will not be protected in the absence of any legislative action on this issue and will face a monthly premium in excess of $110.50. The CMS OACT projects that under intermediate economic assumptions, the monthly Part B premium will be $120.10 and $113.80 for 2011 and 2012, respectively.6 The actual premium amount for 2011 has yet to be announced as of the date of this report." |
Forums » Politics & Society » Government & Elections » MEDICARE RATES
