Medicare 2008 Update

The following is a listing of the Medicare premium, deductible, and coinsurance rates that will be in effect in 2008:

Medicare Premiums for 2008:

Part A: (Hospital Insurance) Premium

• Most people do not pay a monthly Part A premium because they or a spouse has 40 or more quarters of Medicare-covered employment.
• The Part A premium is $433.00 per month for people who are not otherwise eligible for premium-free hospital insurance and have less than 30 quarters of Medicare-covered employment.

Part B: (Medical Insurance) Premium
$96.40 per month.* Your monthly premium will be higher if you file an individual tax return and your annual income is more than $82,000, or if you are married (file a joint tax return) and your annual income is more than $164,000.

Medicare Deductible and Coinsurance Amounts for 2008:

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 (2008 = $1024) 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:

• A total of $1024 for a hospital stay of 1-60 days.
  
• $256 per day for days 61-90 of a hospital stay.
  
• $512 per day for days 91-150 of a hospital stay (Lifetime Reserve Days).
  
• All costs for each day beyond 150 days
  

Skilled Nursing Facility Coinsurance

• $128.00 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, after an annual deductible of a $135.00. You pay 20% of the Medicare approved amount for services after you meet the $135.00 annual deductible.

* The chart below shows the Part B monthly premium amounts based on income. These amounts change each year. There may be a late-enrollment penalty.