Most beneficiaries will not see an increase in their Medicare Part B premium, but those who do (new beneficiaries in 2011 and higher income people) will see a 4.4% increase, quite modest and quite unbelievable in today’s health care climate.
In addition, deductibles are going up as well.
Medicare Deductible and Coinsurance Amounts for 2011:
Part A: (pays for inpatient hospital, skilled nursing facility, and some home health care) For each benefit period Medicare pays all covered costs except the Medicare Part A deductible (2011 = $1,132) during the first 60 days and coinsurance amounts for hospital stays that last beyond 60 days and no more than 150 days.
For each benefit period you pay:
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A total of $1,132 for a hospital stay of 1-60 days.
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$283 per day for days 61-90 of a hospital stay.
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$566 per day for days 91-150 of a hospital stay (Lifetime Reserve Days).
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All costs for each day beyond 150 days
Skilled Nursing Facility Coinsurance
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$141.50 per day for days 21 through 100 each benefit period.
Part B: (covers Medicare eligible physician services, outpatient hospital services, certain home health services, durable medical equipment)
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$162.00 deductible for 2011. Patients pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for services after meeting the the $162.00 deductible.
For more information visit Medicare.gov
Even though Medicare deductibles are rising, their rate of increase is far less than would be dictated by general inflation since the program was initiated in 1965. Deductibles would be even higher if health care inflation applied.
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