There are Medicare changes which will become effective on Jan. 1, 2018, and White River Now’s Gary B. has put the pencil to the new figures. The amounts (dollar amounts) are determined by the federal government. If you have a Medicare Supplement policy through an insurance agency, the company is required to report those changes to you.
Here are the changes:
The Medicare Part A deductible, which you must pay before Medicare begins to pay hospital bills, will be $1,340. The co-payment you must pay for a hospital stay will be $335 a day for days 61 through 90 and $670 a day for days 9l through 150.
Let’s stop there, and add up your costs: For days 61 through 90 (a total of 30 days), you would have to pay: $10,050. For days 91 through 150 (a total of 60 days), you would have to pay: $40,200.
The skilled nursing facility co-pay will be $167.50 for days 21 through 100. That is 80 days at $167.50 a day. You would pay: $13,400. The Medicare Part B deductible will be $183. The annual deductible for Medicare supplement high deductible Plan F will be $2,240. Most people will pay a monthly Part B premium of $134. (some Medicare Part B enrollees will pay less.)
For questions, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213.
Listen to Gary B. every weekday on Ozark Newsline, heard on Arkansas 103.3, 93 KZLE, and other W.R.D. Entertainment radio stations.
