SHIIP, the Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program, is available to Medicare beneficiaries, their families and caregivers to help them understand how the coming changes will affect their coverage in 2017. With the change of the calendar year comes change to Medicare Parts A and B. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services re-examine the costs for Medicare Parts A and B each year to determine if changes need to be made to deductibles, co-pays and out-of-pocket maximums.

Part B – Medical Insurance

The standard Part B premium amount in 2017 will be $134 (or higher depending on your income). However, most people who get Social Security benefits will pay less than this amount. This is because the Part B premium increased more than the cost-of-living increase for 2017 Social Security benefits. If you pay your Part B premium through your monthly Social Security benefit, you will pay, on average, $109 in 2017.

Part B deductible will increase from $166 in 2016 to $183 in 2017 

Part A – Hospital Insurance

Hospitalization costs for Medicare beneficiaries will increase slightly in 2017. 

Hospitalization Costs

First 60 days: 2016 — $1,288 deductible | 2017 — $1,316 deductible

Days 61-90: 2016 — $322 per day | 2017 — $329 per day

Days 91-150: 2016 — $644 per day | 2017 — $658 per day

Medicare will continue to pay 100 percent of approved costs for the first 20 days of Post-Hospital Skilled Nursing Facility Care. For Skilled Nursing Care between 21 and 100 days, the charge per day is $164.50 for 2017, an increase from the 2016 charge of $161.00.

The premium for Medicare Part A will continue to be $0 for eligible beneficiaries. For those ineligible, the premium for Part A increased to $413 per month for those who worked fewer than 30 quarters, and $227 per month for those who worked between 30 and 40 quarters.

Medicare Supplement Plans

The Standardized Medicare Supplement Plans in 2017 will increase slightly for the out-of-pocket limit for Plan K at $4,969, and the out-of-pocket limit for Plan L at $2,560. The deductible for the Plan F Prime is increasing to $2,200. SHIIP, a division of the North Carolina Department of Insurance, can help answer any questions about Medicare costs and coverage over the phone or in person. Trained SHIIP counselors are available for free, unbiased counsel-ing appointments in all 100 North Carolina counties.

For more information, contact SHIIP at 1-855-408-1212 or visit www.ncshiip.com