Medicare and Medicare Supplements

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people 65 years of age or older, certain younger people with disabilities and people with End-Stage Renal Disease.  It is comprised of two parts:  Part A which is Hospital Insurance and Part B which pays for doctor's services, outpatient hospital care, and other medical services.  Medicare Supplements help to pay for  deductibles, coinsurance and other services not covered by Medicare. 

Below are the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Deductibles and co-payments for 2010.  These become effective January 1, 2010. 

• Part A (Hospitalization)
  - $1,100 Deductible per Benefit Period
  - $275 Co-payment per day from the 61^st to the 90^th Day
  - $550 Co-payment per day from 91-150 of a hospital stay (Lifetime Reserve Days)
  - All costs for each day beyond 150 days.
   
• Part A (Skilled Nursing Facility)
  - $137.50 Co-payment per day from the 21^st to the 100^th day
   
  
• Part B (Medical)
  - $155 Deductible per Calendar Year (Note: you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for services after you meet the $155 deductible).

The 2010 Part B monthly premium rates to be paid by beneficiaries who file an individual tax return (including those who are single, head of household, qualifying widow(er) with dependent child, or married filing separately who lived apart from their spouse for the entire taxable year), or joint tax return are:

* There may be a late-enrollment penalty

** $110.50 is the cost for those "aging in" this year.

Click here for a copy of the Wisconsin Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare