What Happened To Medicare Supplement Plans In June 2010?
After a long hard battle, Congress made changes to the Medicare Supplement rules. The changes to Medical Supplement Plans in June 2010 started on the 1st of the month. The Original Medicare has gaps in the services. It can lead to financial disaster with the coinsurance payments, deductibles, and out of pocket expenses. The new changes give you several choices regarding health care coverage to fill in the gaps between the Original Medicare and the balance of what you are left owing.
Starting June 1st, Hospice Part A coinsurance is now covered as a basic benefit. The basic benefits cover outpatient prescription drugs, and inpatient care. The Medigap Plan K covers 50% of the cost while Plan L will cover 75% of these benefits. This is a welcome change to the original Medigap policies.
Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Medigap Plans K, L and Plan N require you to pay a portion of Medicare Part B coinsurance and copayment. The good news is this may results in lowering your premium for these plans. All other Medicare Supplement policies pay Part B coinsurance or copayments at 100% rate.
Medigap Plans M and N are new choices to the Medigap coverage for June 2010. Plan M covers 50% of Medicare Part A inpatient hospital deductible. Plan N covers 1004 of the inpatient hospital deductible. Neither of the new plans covers Medicare Part B deductibles. Though new plans have been offered, Medigap Plan D and G have new benefit changes. You can no longer purchase Plans E, H, I and J staring in June 2010. However, if you had Plans D, G, E, H, and plans I and J before June 2010, you can keep them as long as you pay your premiums.