06 Feb Medicare Changes in 2015
It’s a new year and with it come a few changes to Medicare. The good news is that Medicare Part B premiums remain at $104.90 per month if your income is below $85,000, and if your income is above $85,000 your premiums for doctor visits and other outpatient services will not increase. If you have Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage) there are also greater discounts for both generic and name-brand drugs once you reach the “donut hole.” In 2015, this begins when you and your Part D plan have spent a combined total of $2,960.00. If you want to change your Medicare Advantage plan, we are in the window to make those changes from January 1 through February 14, 2015. Persons who pay for their Medicare Part A coverage (which is relatively few people) will be pleased to see their premiums drop from $426 to $407.
In addition, the current “star” system for rating nursing homes on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) website will be expanded in 2015. This will enable consumers to choose hospitals, home health care agencies and dialysis facilities based upon performance under the CMS standards.
