Medicare
2010 Update
The following is a listing
of the Medicare premium, deductible, and coinsurance rates that
will be in effect in 2010:
Medicare Premiums for 2010:
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 $461.00 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
$110.50 per month.* Your monthly premium will be higher if you
file an individual tax return and your annual income is more than
$85,000,
or if you are married (file a joint tax return) and your annual
income is more than $170,000.
Medicare Deductible and Coinsurance Amounts for 2010:
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 (2009 = $1068) 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 $1100
for a hospital stays of 1-60 days.
- $275 per day for
days 61-90 of a hospital stay.
- $550 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
- $137.50 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, after an annual deductible of a $155.00.
You pay 20% of the Medicare approved amount for services after
you meet the $155.00 annual deductible.
* The majority of beneficiaries
will not see an increase in their Part B monthly premium from
the 2009 amount ($96.40) thanks to the “hold harmless” provision of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. §1395r(f)). See
the discussion of the hold harmless provision that is included
in the following weekly alert:
Most Medicare beneficiaries
will continue to pay the same $96.40 Part B premium amount
in 2010. Beneficiaries who currently have the Social Security
Administration (SSA) withhold their Part B premium and have
incomes of $85,000 or less (or $170,000 or less for joint
filers) will not have an increase in their Part B premium for
2010.
For all others, the
standard Medicare Part B monthly premium will be $110.50 in 2010,
which is a 15% increase over the
2009 premium. The Medicare Part B premium is increasing in
2010 due to possible increases in Part B costs. Some people will
pay a higher premium based on their modified adjusted gross
income.
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