MEDICARE PREMIUM INCREASE

[John Schmidt]

For those of you who are on Medicare or will be going on it in the near future, read the following.  It's short, but important and you probably haven't heard about it in the mainstream news:

"The per person Medicare insurance premium will increase from the present monthly fee of

$96.40, rising to:

$104.20 in 2012;

$120.20 in 2013;

And  $247.00 in 2014."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Just great, and my secondary insurance has been going up an average of 15-20% per year as well. Based on that, our health insurance will cost in excess of $1200/month when I add in the cost of the secondary and proposed increases for it. Admittedly, our insurance is great when used in conjunction with Medicare, I just don't know where the money is coming from because the final figure is just short of double what it is now. Isn't part of the Obamacare title called "Affordable?"  Wonder where they came up with that, sure doesn't apply....there's nothing "affordable" about it.

[Momz]

Medicare premiuns going up and no increase in Social Security,
It is obvious that the system is in dire need of an overhaul.

Social Security and Medicare are paid for by our wages (unless you are self-employed, but you can contribute). As aging Boomers we need to contact our Congressmen that this is unexceptable and that it will cause an extreme dissent with their constituents.

[Skeeter (Va)]

For those of you who are on Medicare or will be going on it in the near future, read the following.  It's short, but important and you probably haven't heard about it in the mainstream news:

"The per person Medicare insurance premium will increase from the present monthly fee of

$96.40, rising to:

$104.20 in 2012;

$120.20 in 2013;

And  $247.00 in 2014."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Just great, and my secondary insurance has been going up an average of 15-20% per year as well. Based on that, our health insurance will cost in excess of $1200/month when I add in the cost of the secondary and proposed increases for it. Admittedly, our insurance is great when used in conjunction with Medicare, I just don't know where the money is coming from because the final figure is just short of double what it is now. Isn't part of the Obamacare title called "Affordable?"  Wonder where they came up with that, sure doesn't apply....there's nothing "affordable" about it.

 I enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan (Humana PPO) and the $96.40 is now routed to Humana Ins Co.  I have medical, hospital, doctor visits and prescription coverage.  I was told to put my red/white/blue cards away and present my Humana card.  This card has the Medicare symbol on it and info for the doc co pay which is !10.00 and $35.00 for a specialist.  Did this years ago.  AARP also offers an "Advantage Plan" that seems to be a favorite.  This is not the AARP Suppliment Ins plan.  I was told by medicare to drop that Sup plan @ $340.00 / month for two of us.  Anyway,  we now pay $96.30 X 2  for decent coverage.  There are many Ins Co's to choose an Advantage plan with.

[solo1]

I haven't really checked it out but maybe the huge jump in 2014 would be due to Obamacare.  C'mon Supreme Court!

About SS, now the pols are calling it an entitlement BULL!! I paid into it so it was a forced retirement savings plan.  It might be a entitlement to all those who are collecting on it but didn't contribute.

I'll shut up, just gets my BP up.

[R J]

No comment, don't get me started on those Bastards on Capital Hill starting with the (I won't go there now.)

[czuch]

Vote 20 years out.
Were so hosed.
Nothin personal Hoser.

[Doc809]

You guys are getting the premium increases while, at the same time, I am scheduled for a 29.1% REDUCTION in pay for treating a Medicare patient.  Lots of providers gonna be getting out of the Medicare system and not see Medicare patients at all.  If the reductions actually takes place I will not be accepting NEW Medicare patients but will continue to see my current patients.  Gonna get interesting. L

[Fritz The Cat]

Pain medication should be freely available to all those who need it. Then just let them die and the medical industry can stave to death. When you produce a product or service that nobody can afford, you have no right to exist.

[solo1]

The Obama plan reduces payouts to physicians, increases the number of people under Medicare, and gives ZERO incentive to increasing the number of doctors that will be necessary to treat the avalance of patients.

This is when I already spent 4.5 hours in the waiting room of my opthamologist just the other day.

Seniors that were working and productive all their life, no drag on society, and deserving better treatment, will be the last in line (if at all) to receive the care that will be necessary in their later years.

Pass the Plan and then we'll see what's in it!  Those #$%^&

You got me started!

[John Schmidt]

I agree, gets my BP boiling. I read about it last night in an email from an old HS buddy and it really got to me. I woke up at 5:30 this morning and that was the first thing that came to mind. I never did get back to sleep due to stewing over the stupidity of the "Affordable" plan and wondering what I'm going to do. Geez...Larry, Curly and Moe; i.e., obama, Reid, and Peloosely. What these dipsticks don't realize, or won't listen to, is that with this program they passed there will be an enormous number of people that will have to drop or reduce their coverage due to increased premiums. 

If it were just me I had to worry about, I'd drop all of it and just go to the ER when I have a problem. Tell them I have no insurance and get treated for free, same thing people do now and the rest of us have to pay for it.

[Skeeter (Va)]

JOHN  S......As I mentioned to you in an earlier reply, call and investigate AARPs   "MEDICARE  ADVANTAGE PLAN"  They are one of dozens SPONSORED BY MEDICARE . 

NOT THE SUPLLIMENTAL PLAN.....Read my reply again.  The Medicare people now route my $96.00 to an insurance company ...I AM FULLY COVERED FOR WITH PRESCRIPTIONS ECT FOR $96.40......COMON' MAN !!

[musclehead]

once again we're just too dumb to figure out the brilliance of this plan.

Herman Cain 2012.

I have NO doubt he would repeal this POS legislation.

[Doc809]

Did you see where Dennis Miller is endorsing Herman Cain?  He said he wants the bumpersticker concession that would say "Cain vs Unable".  Nothing to get your panties in a wad over. Just thought it was funny.

[lee]

 I enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan (Humana PPO) and the $96.40 is now routed to Humana Ins Co.  I have medical, hospital, doctor visits and prescription coverage.  I was told to put my red/white/blue cards away and present my Humana card.  This card has the Medicare symbol on it and info for the doc co pay which is !10.00 and $35.00 for a specialist.  Did this years ago.  AARP also offers an "Advantage Plan" that seems to be a favorite.  This is not the AARP Suppliment Ins plan.  I was told by medicare to drop that Sup plan @ $340.00 / month for two of us.  Anyway,  we now pay $96.30 X 2  for decent coverage.  There are many Ins Co's to choose an Advantage plan with.

Just for your information SKEETER:
The $96.40 which is now routed to Humana will increase to $247 in 2014.  This will come out of YOUR SS check.  $150.60 less for you each Month.
The $96.30 Advantage plan preminum will also increase BIG TIME since Obama care reduces what the Gov. pays insurance co. for offering the advantage plans.

One other thing: Its easy as pie to go from a Sup. plan to an Advantage plan.  But near impossible to go from Advantage plan to Sup. plan.

[John Schmidt]

JOHN  S......As I mentioned to you in an earlier reply, call and investigate AARPs   "MEDICARE  ADVANTAGE PLAN"  They are one of dozens SPONSORED BY MEDICARE .  

NOT THE SUPLLIMENTAL PLAN.....Read my reply again.  The Medicare people now route my $96.00 to an insurance company ...I AM FULLY COVERED FOR WITH PRESCRIPTIONS ECT FOR $96.40......COMON' MAN !!

Got it Skeeter, I'm going to check into it. Hopefully they have it available here in Florida. Thanks for the tip, wonder how they are with preexisting stuff.

Lee, I thought of that also but it's still a heck of lot less than I'm paying now or will in the future.

[musclehead]

Did you see where Dennis Miller is endorsing Herman Cain?  He said he wants the bumpersticker concession that would say "Cain vs Unable".  Nothing to get your panties in a wad over. Just thought it was funny.

Dennis Miller, not much wiggle room people either love him or hate him. no grey area what so ever.
that was my opinion back when he was commentating Monday night football.
now his radio show is esoteric as can be, he always tap dances on my cerebellum. but in a good way