Old_Trapper70
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2014
- Messages
- 2,383
This is an edited version:
We hear a lot from the right wing about the increasing costs of the ACA. Of course, since it is a liberal plan why would they not whine, and cry, about it. However, we hear nothing about the increases in drug costs increasing the Medicare Part D prescription plan ( a Republican plan):
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money...10/26/medicare-part-d-premiums-2017/92591684/
"Choosing a prescription drug plan is particularly important for seniors since they tend to be more prone to expensive illnesses compared to younger adults. According to a study from the Kaiser Family Foundation, seniors taking drugs to treat hepatitis C, multiple sclerosis, or cancer can spend anywhere from $4,000 to $12,000 per year out-of-pocket just to take a single drug — and this includes what a Medicare prescription drug plan would cover.
Another recent AARP study, Rx Price Watch, found that average annual prescription drug costs have ballooned from $4,140 in 2005 to $11,341 as of 2013 for elderly Americans."
The Medigap plan (Supplemental plan in which my premium went up 30% this year), another Republican plan::
http://www.freep.com/story/money/bu...-plans-rate-increases-medigap-plans/86747966/
"Rates would jump the most for policyholders under age 65, typically the disabled. Their Legacy Medigap Plan C rates would increase by $192, hitting about $315 per month.
Blue Cross says its current rates do not reflect the actual cost of health care, resulting in big losses that are unsustainable.
“We are bringing our Medigap premiums closer to what competitors charge today," said Blue Cross spokesman Andy Hetzel. "Even with this rate increase, we do not expect to make a profit on Legacy Medigap plans.""
Or the rising cost in Medicare Par B premiums:
http://time.com/money/4517168/2017-medicare-premiums-could-jump-20/
"By law, Medicare Part B premiums must be deducted from Social Security payments for those receiving benefits from both programs. Normally, the Part B increase would be paid out of the increase in Social Security payments due to the COLA. But this can’t happen when the COLA is zero or too small to cover higher Part B premiums.
When this happens, the hold harmless rule prevents Medicare from raising Part B premiums on about 70% of all beneficiaries. However, Medicare must still collect about 25% of overall Part B expenses from the beneficiaries (with the government paying the rest). With most beneficiaries held harmless, it has no choice but to dun the other 30% for the entire beneficiary piece of increased Part B expenses."
A year ago, the absence of a 2016 COLA froze Part B premiums at $104.90 a month for those who were held harmless. The other group, including low-income beneficiaries whose premiums are paid by state Medicaid programs, faced a premium increase of roughly 50%."
Just the ACA, a/k/a "Obamacare".
We hear a lot from the right wing about the increasing costs of the ACA. Of course, since it is a liberal plan why would they not whine, and cry, about it. However, we hear nothing about the increases in drug costs increasing the Medicare Part D prescription plan ( a Republican plan):
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money...10/26/medicare-part-d-premiums-2017/92591684/
"Choosing a prescription drug plan is particularly important for seniors since they tend to be more prone to expensive illnesses compared to younger adults. According to a study from the Kaiser Family Foundation, seniors taking drugs to treat hepatitis C, multiple sclerosis, or cancer can spend anywhere from $4,000 to $12,000 per year out-of-pocket just to take a single drug — and this includes what a Medicare prescription drug plan would cover.
Another recent AARP study, Rx Price Watch, found that average annual prescription drug costs have ballooned from $4,140 in 2005 to $11,341 as of 2013 for elderly Americans."
The Medigap plan (Supplemental plan in which my premium went up 30% this year), another Republican plan::
http://www.freep.com/story/money/bu...-plans-rate-increases-medigap-plans/86747966/
"Rates would jump the most for policyholders under age 65, typically the disabled. Their Legacy Medigap Plan C rates would increase by $192, hitting about $315 per month.
Blue Cross says its current rates do not reflect the actual cost of health care, resulting in big losses that are unsustainable.
“We are bringing our Medigap premiums closer to what competitors charge today," said Blue Cross spokesman Andy Hetzel. "Even with this rate increase, we do not expect to make a profit on Legacy Medigap plans.""
Or the rising cost in Medicare Par B premiums:
http://time.com/money/4517168/2017-medicare-premiums-could-jump-20/
"By law, Medicare Part B premiums must be deducted from Social Security payments for those receiving benefits from both programs. Normally, the Part B increase would be paid out of the increase in Social Security payments due to the COLA. But this can’t happen when the COLA is zero or too small to cover higher Part B premiums.
When this happens, the hold harmless rule prevents Medicare from raising Part B premiums on about 70% of all beneficiaries. However, Medicare must still collect about 25% of overall Part B expenses from the beneficiaries (with the government paying the rest). With most beneficiaries held harmless, it has no choice but to dun the other 30% for the entire beneficiary piece of increased Part B expenses."
A year ago, the absence of a 2016 COLA froze Part B premiums at $104.90 a month for those who were held harmless. The other group, including low-income beneficiaries whose premiums are paid by state Medicaid programs, faced a premium increase of roughly 50%."
Just the ACA, a/k/a "Obamacare".
