2012 Medicare Monthly Premiums Have Now Been Published

If you have been waiting to learn more about 2012 Medicare Monthly Premium costs, information is now available on Medicare.gov.

These are the top 7 services now listed on the website:

• Find Out What Medicare Costs in 2012
• Find Health and Drug Plans
• Apply Online for Medicare Now
• Find Out if Medicare Covers Your Test, Item or Service
• Get Extra Help with Prescription Drug Costs
• Find Out How Medicare Works with Your Other Insurance
• Get a New Medicare Card

NOTE: Of those seven topics listed above, the top one has the information that seniors have been waiting for: Find Out What Medicare Costs in 2012

Other Topics

Medicare News also covers these topics on the website that deal with open enrollment:

• Medicare Open Enrollment: Things to Think About When Comparing Plans
• Medicare Open Enrollment: 4 Places to Look for Medicare Information

Premium rate changes as explained on the Medicare website

The following is an excerpt from another article on the website:

"Today, we have more good news. Medicare's Part B monthly premium, which helps pay for physicians' services, outpatient hospital services, certain home health services, and other items, is rising by only $3.50 despite earlier projections of a much bigger jump.

"For the last two years, the Part B premium has been frozen for most people with Medicare because their Social Security benefits were not increasing. But this year, Social Security benefits are rising 3.6 percent to cover inflation - the same percent increase as Medicare's premium. For example, the typical retired worker will see a $39 per month increase in their Social Security check. This more than offsets the modest $3.50 change in Medicare premiums which will be the same percent of Social Security checks in 2012 as they were in 2008. In addition, Medicare's Part B deductible will actually fall by over $20, from $161 to $140."

In summary

Seniors will get 3.6 percent more from Social Security, and pay 3.6 percent more to Medicare.

A Related Article: The Cost of 2012 Medicare Premiums is Not yet Available for Seniors - No Surprise There!

Sources:
www.medicare.gov
http://www.medicare.gov/cost/
http://blog.medicare.gov/2011/10/27/keeping-medicare-affordable-in-2012/