May, 2005

Assignment is an important word for the Medicare recipient. It refers to how the health care provider is paid. If a doctor accepts assignment, the doctor has agreed to always accept the medicare approved amount for each service provided as payment in full. Since Medicare pays 80% of the Medicare approved amount, that makes the insured responsible for the 20% balance remaining. All Medicare Supplements will cover the 20% balance after the deductible $110 in 2005 has been met. Medicare pays the do...

Medicare Part A in 2005 has a deductible of $912. That means the insured is responsible for the first $912 of inpatient hospital expense before Medicare will begin to pay. The bad news for the insured is that this deductible can occur more than one time during the year. This is one of the main reasons a medicare supplement is so important. All medicare supplements, with the exception of Plan A, cover this deductible. If the Medicare Part A deductible will be apply more than once during a year is...