Big Changes in Store for Medicare in 2010
How to Prepare for Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment takes place annually and will occur this year between November 15, 2009 and December 31, 2009. During Open Enrollment period Medicare participants must select the Medicare programs in which they wish to enroll for the upcoming year. The decisions that participants make during the Open Enrollment period will take effect during the coming year beginning on June 1, 2010.
Because decisions that Medicare participants need to make about which Medicare programs are most appropriate for their long-term needs require foresight, participants need to have a full understanding of what options are available to them. These decisions will not only apply to their current health-care needs, but also to their upcoming health-care needs that they are able to predict.
In order to make the best decisions possible for their health-care needs, Medicare participants must take time to learn more about the upcoming changes to the Medicare system. Some Medicare participants benefit by working with Medicare advisers to ensure that they understand their options enough to select the best plans for their specific needs.
Changes to Medicare Programs
Many changes will be occurring within the Medicare program beginning on June 1, 2010. These changes include the following:
• Medicare will be eliminating four plans: Plan E, Plan H, Plan I and Plan J. All Medicare participants currently enrolled in these plans will need to select another plan during the Open Enrollment period.
• There will be two new Medicare Supplement Plans: Plan N and Plan M.
• Plan N is similar to Plan F, but will cost about 70 percent of Plan F. However, Plan N participants will need to pay a $20 co-payment for doctor's visits and a $50 co-payment for visits to the emergency room.
• Plan M will cost about 85 percent of Plan F. Participants will be covered for 50 percent of deductibles for Part A and Part B.
• All plans will have hospice care as a benefit.
• The new system will eliminate preventative and at-home-recovery benefits.
Many Medicare plans can be combined with other Medicare plans in order to create a customized plan that meets the specific needs of a Medicare participant. Medicare participants have many options when it comes to selecting the right combination of Medicare plans, including different combinations of Medicare Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, and Plan D.
More About the Medicare Program
The Medicare program is a U.S. federal program that is in place in order to provide qualifying U.S. citizens with health-care coverage for many of their medical needs. In order to qualify for health-care coverage, citizens need to be at least 65 years of age, have End Stage Renal Disease, or have a qualifying disability. The Medicare program covers many of the health-care expenses for Medicare participants. However, many Medicare participants must also have supplemental health-care coverage in order to cover "gaps" in their coverage - or expenses that are not covered as part of the Medicare program.
Resources:
http://www.medicare.gov
Published by Shaw Belt
Since 2004, Shaw Belt has been a freelance writer based in Richmond, Virginia. She specializes in feature article writing, search engine optimized Web content, and business writing. View profile
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