Medicare Premiums & Deductibles - 2008
Your Medicare Coverage: Changes for 2008 Pennsylvanians with Medicare will see plenty of changes in their coverage for 2008. Along with more options than ever before, like prescription drug coverage and Medicare Advantage plans, there will also be an increase in some premiums and deductibles. | |
| For people who are single | |
| If you make: | You will pay: |
| $82,000 or less | $ 96.40 per month |
| Between $82,001 and $102,000 | $122.20 per month |
| Between $102,001 and $153,000 | $160.90 per month |
| Between $153,001 and $205,000 | $199.70 per month |
| More than $205,000 | $238.40 per month |
| For people who are married | |
| If you make: | You will pay: |
| $164,000 or less | $ 96.40 per month |
| Between $164,001 and $204,000 | $122.20 per month |
| Between $204,001 and $306,000 | $160.90 per month |
| Between $306,001 and $410,000 | $199.70 per month |
| More than $410,000 | $238.40 per month |
Your Medicare Coverage: Changes for 2008
Pennsylvanians with Medicare will see plenty of changes in their coverage for 2008. Along with more options than ever before, like prescription drug coverage and Medicare Advantage plans, there will also be an increase in some premiums and deductibles.
Original Medicare Part A
Medicare Part A pays for care in a hospital or skilled nursing facility, some home health care and hospice care.
Part A Premium: For most people, Medicare Part A is free. You or your spouse must have worked at a Medicare-covered job for least 40 quarters (three-month periods) during your lifetime. However, the Part A premium for people having worked 30-39 quarters at a Medicare-covered job is $233. For those having less than 30 quarters, the premium is $423 per month, an increase from $410 in 2007.
Part A Hospital Deductible: The deductible for inpatient hospital care is now $1,024, up from $992 in 2007. The deductible is the only cost for up to 60 days of inpatient hospital care. Beneficiaries must pay an additional $256 per day for days 61 through 90 in 2008, and $512 per day for hospital stays beyond the 90th day. This compares with $248 and $496 in 2007.
Part A Skilled Nursing Home Coverage: Medicare covers skilled nursing facility care under certain conditions for a limited period of time. If conditions are met, Medicare covers costs for up to 20 days. After that, you pay $128 per day, a four-dollar increase from 2007. Past 100 days, Medicare will no longer pay.
Original Medicare Part B
Medicare Part B pays for clinic visits, some lab tests and X-rays, outpatient hospital services and other services. Everyone in Part B pays a premium. It is usually taken from your Social Security check.
Since January 1, 2007, the amount you pay for Medicare Part B has depended on how much money you make. To find out how much you should pay, Medicare views your tax returns. The standard Medicare Part B monthly premium will be $96.40 in 2008, an increase of $2.90 from the $93.50 Part B premium for 2007.
For more information visit www.medicare.gov or www.cms.gov. For questions regarding your premiums and deductibles please call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Words to Know
- A premium is the money you pay each month for Medicare coverage.
- The deductible is the amount you pay out of your pocket for health care before Medicare starts to pay.
- Co-payment is the amount you pay for a doctor visit or for hospital services. It is sometimes called co-insurance.