RALEIGH— Each year the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid reevaluate the numbers for Medicare Parts A and B to determine if changes need to be made to deductibles, coinsurances and out-of-pocket amounts. SHIIP, the Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program, wants to help Medicare beneficiaries understand how they will be affected by these changes in the coming year.
Part B, Medical Insurance
There are no changes in 2014 to the premium or deductible for Part B, Medical Insurance. The premium remains $104.90 each month for most beneficiaries; premiums will be higher for people with incomes higher than $85,000 a year. The deductible for Part B remains $147 per year.
There will be a change to the coinsurance for Outpatient Mental Health Services. In 2014, the Medicare beneficiary will pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved cost after the deductible, as opposed to 35 percent in 2013.
Part A, Hospital Insurance
Hospitalization costs for Medicare beneficiaries will increase in 2014.
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 increasing to $152, from $148 in 2013. The premium for Medicare Part A will continue to be $0 for eligible beneficiaries. For those ineligible, the premium for Part A is $426 per month for those who worked fewer than 30 quarters, and $234 per month for those who worked between 30 and 40 quarters. These amounts are a decrease from the previous year’s charges.
Medicare Supplement Plans
There will also be a few changes in 2014 to the Standardized Medicare Supplement Plans in 2014. The out-of-pocket limit for Plan K has increased from $4,800 to $4,940, and the out-of-pocket limit for Plan L has increased from $2,400 to $2,470. The deductible for the Plan F Prime is increasing slightly, from $2,110 to $2,140. 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 counseling appointments in all 100 North Carolina counties. For more information, contact SHIIP at 1-800-443-9354 or visit www.ncshiip.com
