This week was the target date for the arrival of the first of 4 million $250 checks given to some Medicare enrollees in the Part D drug recommendation program in several mailboxes.  These developments are just the beginning of the Medicare changes because of the health care reform.

These checks are a one-time subsidy for the next year to seniors enrolled in the Medicare doughnut hole, or the $3, 600 difference between regular and catastrophic coverage.  The original Medicare that takes charge of the drugs is the part D coverage.  This section suggests that seniors only pay the medication fees until spending up $2, 700.

The checks could cover up only a part of the growing number of bills, but a $ 1 billion pledge could help close up the gap by 2020.

Aged citizens in the doughnut hole will have a 50% discount on name-brand drugs and 7% discount on generic drugs by 2011.  This is because of the Affordable Care Act signed earlier this year, and more changes are still expected to come up.

Patty Guttu, Medicare coordinator, said the seniors from Treasure Coast are always calling the Area Agency on Aging of palm Beach’s line to inquire about the health care reform, worried about increased payments or decreased benefits.

But many health care reform effects are still unknown to many.  This reform reduces the compensation for the insurers that provide the Medicare Advantage plans, in which almost one-fourth of the insurance applicants choose.

The Medicare Advantage payments are still pending as for now.  It means consumers will have to decide for 2011, indicating that if people loose the Medicare Advantage, they still have the traditional Medicare as another option.

For this year’s opening of the enrollment period, starting November 15, people will be noticing a few variations in Medicare, and also for Medigap supplemental insurance plans.  The two new plans are added up and the four other programs — a combination of parts A, B and D and Medicare Part C or the Medicare Advantage plan — are phase out from the list.

Medical providers are required by the health care reform to offer pre-emptive services to patients, like a once-a-year physical check up, colorectal cancer screening, and free mammograms in the start of 2011.  The law gives out requirements which are proposed to let hospitals perk up quality and satisfaction for patients.

Tags | Health Care Plan, Health Care Reform, Medicare Coverage, Patty Guttu