Medicare Poised to Take Bigger Chunk of Social Security Checks Next Year
Medicare Poised to Take Bigger Chunk of Social Security Checks Next Year
Excerpt: “CBO estimates the basic premium will rise to $119 next year and to $123 in 2011 for those not protected by the law. In addition, the Times reports that millions of beneficiaries also could experience higher premiums for drug coverage under Medicare Part D because there are no laws that prevent such an increase.” (California HealthCare Foundation)
Source: www.californiahealthline.org
Editorial: Health care and how to pay for it (The Sacramento Bee)
As Congress begins to debate in earnest the details of health care reform, the members in Washington would do well to look toward California. The Golden State has the largest number of uninsured in the nation, and our taxpayers bear the burden of providing health care to the biggest population of people on Medicaid, known here as Medi-Cal. We’ve also been pioneers in developing new ways to …
Source: www.sacbee.com
CMS Issues Retiree Drug Subsidy User Guide and New FAQs
Excerpt: “Employers applying for the Medicare Part D retiree drug subsidy (RDS) now have additional resources on the RDS application and reconciliation process. CMS has issued a new RDS User Guide, which includes information from many how-to documents on its website. The agency also has released eight frequently asked questions addressing how to correct submitted drug costs, payment requests or retiree lists after an application has completed reconciliation.” (Mercer LLC)
Source: us.select.mercer.com
[Guidance Overview] Recent Legislation Requires Numerous Changes to Group Health Plans
Material covered includes coordination with SCHIP and Medicaid and New Privacy Restrictions in the Stimulus Package. (Troutman Sanders LLP)
Source: www.troutmansanders.com
Savings Needed for Health Expenses in Retirement: An Examination of Persons Ages 55 and 65 in 2009 (PDF)
Pages of 20 pages. Excerpt: “This report updates earlier EBRI research on estimated savings needed to cover health insurance to supplement Medicare and out-of-pocket expenses for health care services in retirement. It finds that men age 65 in 2009 retiring this year will need anywhere from $68,000?$173,000 in savings to cover health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket expenses in retirement if they want a 50?50 chance of being able to have enough money, and $134,000?$378,000 if they prefer a 90 percent chance. With their greater longevity, women will need more: a women retiring at age 65 in 2009 will need anywhere from $98,000?$242,000 in savings to cover health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket expenses inretirement for a 50?50 chance of having enough money, and $164,000?$450,000 for a 90 percent chance.” (Employee Benefit Research Institute)
Source: www.ebri.org
Our Say: Rising Medicaid costs one piece of national puzzle (The Capital)
You could say that the latest numbers on Marylanders joining the state Medicaid system indicate that changes made by the governor and the legislature are working as planned – indeed, better than planned.
Source: www.hometownannapolis.com
Some kids hit with Medicaid cut – Omaha World-Herald
Some Nebraska children are losing Medicaid funding for a specialized level of behavioral health care even though the state will continue paying for the same treatment for children who are state wards. State officials expect the loss in funding …
Source: www.omaha.com
How The White House Hopes to Control Health Care Costs
Excerpt: “Senate sources confirm that the president argued in favor of a genuinely major Medicare reform — a reform that could make Medicare the nation’s most important laboratory for health care reforms.” (Washington Post; free registration required)
Source: voices.washingtonpost.com