Medicare Supplement Center

Medicare Part D Premiums Increase in 2009

Many seniors have great health insurance coverage by combining Medicare Part A and Part B with a Medicare supplement plan and a Medicare Part D plan.  Like everything today, prices are on the rise for Medicare Part D plans in 2009.  The good news is that the Medicare Part D 2009 premiums are 37% lower than what was anticipated when Part D plans were introduced.  The average 2009 rate has increased to $28 per month.  This is $3 more than the 2008 average.  How can a senior keep costs down?  By checking with their doctor to see if a generics can replace brand name drugs and also by checking out the 2009 Part D plans to see if there is one that better fits their needs.  This can be done by talking to their pharmacist or using the Medicare website that has a tool allowing one to enter his or her RX information and then ranking the plans in the most cost effective order.

Medicare Supplements: How they work

In order to have a Medicare supplement, a person must also have coverage under Medicare Part A and Part B.  The Medicare supplement picks up where Medicare leaves off.  Medicare Part A (hospitalization) has a deductible and additional costs for extended hospital stays.  Part B has a deductible and then covers 80% of medical costs.  Medicare supplement coverage depends on which of the available plans you choose.

Medicare supplement coverage is preferred by many seniors because it allows them to go to any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare (generally speaking) and and out of pocket costs are very small, especially if the Medicare supplement covers the Part A deductible.