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Welcome to Medicare Heads Up, a regular feature intended to deliver state and national Medicare-related headlines that will keep consumers abreast of developments that affect their coverage and costs. This week:
As part of its 2021 budget, the Trump Administration is proposing that Medicare-eligible Americans be able to contribute to health savings accounts (HSAs) longer by giving Social Security recipients the option to reject Medicare Part A. Americans collecting Social Security currently have no choice but to receive hospital coverage through Part A when first eligible, and enrollees in Part A face penalties if they then continue to contribute to an HSA.
In its proposed budget, the Administration would allow Medicare beneficiaries to make tax-deductible HSA contributions – even if they choose to receive Part A. Currently enrollees must cease HSA contributions once enrolled in Medicare or face tax penalties. The budget also proposes allowing contributions to medical savings accounts (MSAs), a type of savings account linked to a Medicare high-deductible health plan used by about 6,000 Medicare beneficiaries. (MSA enrollees currently cannot contribute to their own MSA, but do receive contributions from their MSA insurer.)
In a change that has long been opposed by industry and some advocates, the Administration also calls for paying most hospital-owned physician offices the same rate as non-hospital based physicians. Currently, Medicare’s payment rates are higher for hospital-based physicians, which means Original Medicare beneficiaries without supplemental coverage pay more in co-insurance when receiving hospital-based doctor’s services. (Physician services are covered under Medicare Part B, which has a $198 deductible in 2020 and then covers 80 percent of the cost, with the beneficiary paying the other 20 percent.)
A judge blocked the Trump administration’s efforts to implement site-neutral payment rates last year, and some experts believe it has “little chance” of being enacted, but it’s clear this is a priority for the Trump administration, and the lower payment rates for hospital-based physicians would mean lower out-of-pocket costs for Original Medicare beneficiaries who pay their own out-of-pocket costs under Part B.
The Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will soon begin a nationwide review of how marketers access Medicare beneficiaries’ personal information stored in a national information system for pharmacy benefits. HHS made the announcement after a narrower investigation showed unauthorized use of the system, which contains information about Medicare beneficiaries with Part D and other drug coverage, and is only intended for use by pharmacies as needed to fill patient prescriptions.
New options may soon be available to disabled Virginia Medicare beneficiaries under age 65. Currently, individuals under 65 have no federal right to purchase a Medigap plan, and although many states have enacted legislation providing access to Medigap for certain people in this situation, Virginia currently lacks such protections. On February 10, the Virginia Senate unanimously passed legislation that would require Medigap insurers to offer at least one standardized plan to Medicare-eligible individuals under 65, although insurers would be allowed to charge substantially higher premiums for enrollees under age 65. (The measure would not help ESRD Medicare beneficiaries, who face large barriers to accessing supplemental coverage and until next year cannot enroll in MA.) The legislation is now under consideration in the State House, where the Labor and Commerce Committee gave unanimous support on February 20.
Josh Schultz has a strong background in Medicare and the Affordable Care Act. He managed a Medicare ombudsman contract at the Medicare Rights Center in New York City, and represented clients in extensive Medicare claims and appeals. In addition to advocacy work, Josh helped implement federal and state health insurance exchanges at the technology firm hCentive. He also has held consulting roles, including as an associate at Sachs Policy Group, where he worked with insurer, hospital and technology clients on Medicare and Medicaid issues.
Medicare-assigned retailers agree to charge the Medicare-approved price for their products, and can't bill you for anything more than your Medicare deductible and coinsurance.
Here's how to save money on premiums for Medicare Part B – which covers doctor visits, diagnostics, and preventive care.
Reasons to consider a change to your Medicare prescription drug coverage may include high premiums, changes to your prescriptions or your plan's formulary, and your access to in-network pharmacies.
President Trump's plan to 'inject competition' into Medicare aims to do exactly what Trump charges his opponents with doing: ending the Medicare guarantee of comprehensive coverage at an affordable price.
Can't wait to make changes to your Medicare coverage during open enrollment? Just know that open enrollment can also be an occasion for major enrollment blunders. Here are three that you'll want to steer clear of.
You don't have to sign up for Medicare online, but if you're trying to save time, completing an online application may be the best way to go.
But prescription drugs – and drug coverage – can be less expensive if you're willing to do a little research and to reach out for help. Here are eight strategies that will empower you to take control of your drug coverage and your medication costs.
Once you sign up for Medicare, you’re no longer eligible to contribute to a health savings account (HSA), so in some cases, it pays to hold off on enrolling.
Medicare-assigned retailers agree to charge the Medicare-approved price for their products, and can't bill you for anything more than your Medicare deductible and coinsurance.
Here's how to save money on premiums for Medicare Part B – which covers doctor visits, diagnostics, and preventive care.
Reasons to consider a change to your Medicare prescription drug coverage may include high premiums, changes to your prescriptions or your plan's formulary, and your access to in-network pharmacies.
President Trump's plan to 'inject competition' into Medicare aims to do exactly what Trump charges his opponents with doing: ending the Medicare guarantee of comprehensive coverage at an affordable price.
Can't wait to make changes to your Medicare coverage during open enrollment? Just know that open enrollment can also be an occasion for major enrollment blunders. Here are three that you'll want to steer clear of.
You don't have to sign up for Medicare online, but if you're trying to save time, completing an online application may be the best way to go.
But prescription drugs – and drug coverage – can be less expensive if you're willing to do a little research and to reach out for help. Here are eight strategies that will empower you to take control of your drug coverage and your medication costs.
Once you sign up for Medicare, you’re no longer eligible to contribute to a health savings account (HSA), so in some cases, it pays to hold off on enrolling.
