Butler County Senior News
March 2017
Volume 11, Number 6
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Take time to review Medicare costs for 2017 Anyone on Medicare knows that its health insurance comes with significant costsharing premiums, deductibles, co-insurance and copays, and that these costs change from one year to the next. Following is a review of Medicare costs in 2017. Medicare Part A Part A is the hospital benefit of Medicare that covers inpatient hospital care, care in a skilled nursing facility (up to 100 days), some home health care, and hospice services. Most people do not pay a premium for Part A (because they, or their
spouse, have paid Medicare taxes while working). In 2017, the Part A hospital deductible is $1,316 per spell of illness. If someone is in the hospital longer than 60 days, their cost sharing will be: $329/day for days 61-90 and $658/day for days 91-150. Beneficiaries in a skilled nursing facility that accepts Medicare pay no cost for Medicare-covered care for the first 20 days. Medicare can cover up to 100 days of skilled nursing facility care, but the beneficiary has a $164.50 per day co-pay for days 21 through 100.
Medicare Part B Part B is the medical benefit of Medicare covering outpatient care like doctor visits, outpatient hospital services, diagnostic tests, ambulance services, durable medical equipment and mental health services. Everyone on Medicare is subject to a monthly Part B premium. Most people have their Part B premium automatically deducted from their monthly Social Security check. Some people with limited income and resources qualify for Medicaid to pay their Part B premium. 2016 King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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