The premium that seniors pay for Medicare Part B will remain the same for next year as it was this year. This premium covers doctors visits and other things but not hospital stays.
This is the first time since 2000, and the sixth time ever, that the premium has not gone up from one year to the next.
Unfortunately, the unfaltering price is not an indication that health costs have stopped increasing, but the outcome of some strange accounting issues. Everything is explained in a fact sheet that the feds put out on September 19.
Premiums will be $96.40 a month for single people who make $85,000 or less and couples making $170,000 or less.
Sometime in 2009, costs are projected to go up. Premiums have been higher than normal compared to costs for the past few years, to help build up a contingency reserve that’s part of the program. Right now, the reserve in in good condition. After it was unintentionally withdrawn and used to cover hospice care that was supposed to be covered by another Medicare program, $9.3 billion was returned to the Part B account.
This news has been used by the AARP to keep the lobbying heat on Washington.
0 Responses to “Medicare Part B premiums to remain steady for 2009”