(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new low-cost Medicare Supplement insurance policy is now approved for sale to seniors in Georgia. The Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commission has approved a very low-cost Medicare Supplement insurance plan for seniors and Georgia is among the first states in the nation to allow this supplemental insurance plan to be offered to its citizens. The availability of this low-cost supplemental plan for Georgia seniors was announced today by State Mutual Insurance Company of Rome, GA.
“We have eliminated a substantial cost element in this process”
State Mutual President and CEO, Dee Yancey III, said that Georgia residents of Medicare age now have access to one of the lowest cost Medicare supplement insurance plans available anywhere in the nation. Yancey said that State Mutual Insurance Company will allow Medicare-age consumers to apply for the supplemental Medicare insurance policy online, without having to talk with an insurance agent. “They can go online (www.statemutualinsurance.com) to fill out a confidential application and only buy the coverage they determine for themselves that best supplements their Medicare,” he said. “They can go forward secure in the knowledge that no one is going to try to sell them anything,” he said.
State Mutual was founded in 1936 and is licensed in 41 states and the District of Columbia. Yancey said that by using the Internet and allowing consumers to fill out their own applications online, the company has been able to substantially reduce its costs and the price it charges to consumers. “Consumers can also call the company for assistance in filling out applications,” he said.
A quick random comparison of Medicare supplement policies available in a number of states shows that the State Mutual policy is generally the lowest cost in most categories, and in some cases, costing less than half the price of the most expensive policies for the same coverage.
The online program allows an interested customer to review and select a policy, see a price quote, submit an application, receive confirmation of coverage and receive his or her policy in a few minutes of online time. Most policies will be issued within a working day, rather than the customary one- to two-month wait for underwriting review and processing. The customer can also download his or her policy and store it for review at any time. Consumers who wish to speak to a customer service representative, either to obtain information or to apply for a policy, can do so by calling 1-855-764-4000.
Yancey said that the low-cost of the State Mutual Insurance Company policy is achieved by empowering the customer to go online for most, if not all, of the information and application phase of obtaining Medicare supplement insurance. “We have eliminated a substantial cost element in this process,” he said. “This benefits the consumer who can obtain a superior insurance policy from an established company very quickly and inexpensively,” he said.
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Showing posts with label seniors. Show all posts
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Thursday, February 10, 2011
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
136 Members of Congress Demand that Medicare Release Key Information about Controversial Bidding Program for Home Medical Equipment
/PRNewswir/ -- A bipartisan group of 136 members of Congress recently requested that the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) disclose the list of homecare providers whose bids were used to calculate home medical equipment reimbursement rates under the Medicare "competitive" bidding program. See letter at www.aahomecare.org.
"Without knowing the identity, as well as the appropriate overall qualifications of these providers, we cannot evaluate the program's impact in terms of quality and access to care for seniors we represent," states the congressional letter to CMS Administrator Donald Berwick, M.D.
While CMS intends to release this information in the fall after contracts are finalized, members of Congress are calling on CMS to share this information now to make sure that the disastrous mistakes of the 2008 Round One of bidding are avoided and to uphold President Obama's pledge of "transparency and open government."
"We want to ensure that qualified providers have been chosen to provide these items and services to our constituents," said the congressional letter to CMS. "The healthcare community will again have very serious problems if it turns out once more that these companies are unable to provide sufficient access to quality items and services or do not have the financial ability to operate under the new contracted rates."
When CMS held its Round One bid for home medical equipment in 2008, Congress halted implementation and called for a re-bid of the program after numerous problems emerged. For example, under the Round One bidding in 2008, Medicare contracts were granted to providers that were not appropriately licensed and lacked experience with the devices for which they were awarded contracts.
The American Association for Homecare, which represents durable medical equipment providers, is encouraged by the House letter and urges CMS to comply with this important request. The congressional letter, sent on August 11, asked CMS to respond by August 20. At the time of this press release, the Association is not aware of any response so far by the agency.
"We are pleased that so many members of Congress understand the need for transparency and the urgency of this request," said Tyler Wilson, president of AAHomecare. "Transparency for the bid process is critical given past problems with this whole program. If CMS delays the release of information until fall, it will impede the ability to assess the impact of the bidding program on Medicare patients.
"One of our concerns is that providers who submitted low, desperation bids out of their perceived need to remain a Medicare supplier could well determine the government's reimbursement rates - even if those companies ultimately declined to actually provide the equipment at those rates."
The Medicare bidding program for home medical equipment uses a degree of economic coercion to force homecare providers to submit bids necessary to win a contract. Because Medicare is the largest third-party purchaser of home medical care, its market power effectively coerces providers to bid at reimbursement rates low enough to ensure the opportunity to continue serving Medicare beneficiaries. Ultimately, the below-market rates achieved through this bidding program may be unsustainable, reducing competition in the long term and reducing seniors' access to care and choice of providers.
In the first round of the bidding program in 2008, 90 percent of qualified providers were barred from serving Medicare beneficiaries for the bid-upon items. Congress delayed the implementation of the initial bidding program in 2008 to allow for needed changes. The home medical equipment sector paid for that delay by taking a 9.5 percent nationwide reimbursement cut. However, CMS ignored congressional intent, did not address the flaws that precipitated the delay two years ago, and is now charging headlong into the program in 9 of the 10 largest metropolitan statistical areas in the U.S. An additional 91 areas will be subjected to the bidding process next year.
A bipartisan bill pending in Congress, H.R. 3790, calls for the repeal of the Medicare bidding program for home medical equipment and it would substantially reduce reimbursement rates for the equipment but preserve the nation's vital, cost-effective homecare infrastructure. That bill is supported by 255 members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The American Association for Homecare represents durable medical equipment providers, manufacturers, and other organizations in the homecare community. Members serve the medical needs of millions of Americans who require oxygen equipment and therapy, mobility assistive technologies, medical supplies, inhalation drug therapy, home infusion, and other medical equipment and services in their homes. The Association's members operate more than 3,000 homecare locations in all 50 states. Visit www.aahomecare.org/athome.
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"Without knowing the identity, as well as the appropriate overall qualifications of these providers, we cannot evaluate the program's impact in terms of quality and access to care for seniors we represent," states the congressional letter to CMS Administrator Donald Berwick, M.D.
While CMS intends to release this information in the fall after contracts are finalized, members of Congress are calling on CMS to share this information now to make sure that the disastrous mistakes of the 2008 Round One of bidding are avoided and to uphold President Obama's pledge of "transparency and open government."
"We want to ensure that qualified providers have been chosen to provide these items and services to our constituents," said the congressional letter to CMS. "The healthcare community will again have very serious problems if it turns out once more that these companies are unable to provide sufficient access to quality items and services or do not have the financial ability to operate under the new contracted rates."
When CMS held its Round One bid for home medical equipment in 2008, Congress halted implementation and called for a re-bid of the program after numerous problems emerged. For example, under the Round One bidding in 2008, Medicare contracts were granted to providers that were not appropriately licensed and lacked experience with the devices for which they were awarded contracts.
The American Association for Homecare, which represents durable medical equipment providers, is encouraged by the House letter and urges CMS to comply with this important request. The congressional letter, sent on August 11, asked CMS to respond by August 20. At the time of this press release, the Association is not aware of any response so far by the agency.
"We are pleased that so many members of Congress understand the need for transparency and the urgency of this request," said Tyler Wilson, president of AAHomecare. "Transparency for the bid process is critical given past problems with this whole program. If CMS delays the release of information until fall, it will impede the ability to assess the impact of the bidding program on Medicare patients.
"One of our concerns is that providers who submitted low, desperation bids out of their perceived need to remain a Medicare supplier could well determine the government's reimbursement rates - even if those companies ultimately declined to actually provide the equipment at those rates."
The Medicare bidding program for home medical equipment uses a degree of economic coercion to force homecare providers to submit bids necessary to win a contract. Because Medicare is the largest third-party purchaser of home medical care, its market power effectively coerces providers to bid at reimbursement rates low enough to ensure the opportunity to continue serving Medicare beneficiaries. Ultimately, the below-market rates achieved through this bidding program may be unsustainable, reducing competition in the long term and reducing seniors' access to care and choice of providers.
In the first round of the bidding program in 2008, 90 percent of qualified providers were barred from serving Medicare beneficiaries for the bid-upon items. Congress delayed the implementation of the initial bidding program in 2008 to allow for needed changes. The home medical equipment sector paid for that delay by taking a 9.5 percent nationwide reimbursement cut. However, CMS ignored congressional intent, did not address the flaws that precipitated the delay two years ago, and is now charging headlong into the program in 9 of the 10 largest metropolitan statistical areas in the U.S. An additional 91 areas will be subjected to the bidding process next year.
A bipartisan bill pending in Congress, H.R. 3790, calls for the repeal of the Medicare bidding program for home medical equipment and it would substantially reduce reimbursement rates for the equipment but preserve the nation's vital, cost-effective homecare infrastructure. That bill is supported by 255 members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The American Association for Homecare represents durable medical equipment providers, manufacturers, and other organizations in the homecare community. Members serve the medical needs of millions of Americans who require oxygen equipment and therapy, mobility assistive technologies, medical supplies, inhalation drug therapy, home infusion, and other medical equipment and services in their homes. The Association's members operate more than 3,000 homecare locations in all 50 states. Visit www.aahomecare.org/athome.
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Tuesday, August 17, 2010
CLASS Act Analysis Reveals America's Long-Term Care Future
/PRNewswire/ -- The Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act -- a largely overlooked component of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act -- has the potential to transform long-term care financing in the United States from a welfare-based to an insurance-based system, according to the latest issue of Public Policy & Aging Report (PPAR).
With funding from The SCAN Foundation, this installment of PPAR features seven articles that recount the origins of the CLASS Act, analyze the legislation's key provisions, and explore potential hurdles of implementation.
"We consider this issue of PPAR to represent the best of what the publication has to offer," said PPAR Editor Robert Hudson, PhD, chair of the Department of Social Policy at the Boston University School of Social Work. "It is timely, informed, and cutting edge. It goes beyond the headlines and delivers detailed accounts of the emergence of the CLASS Act to a broad audience of policy and academic leaders."
The CLASS Act introduces a voluntary, federally administered insurance program designed to provide middle-class Americans the new choice to plan ahead for personal care and supportive service needs in the face of functional impairment. Enrolled individuals no longer will have to be demonstrably poor or spend themselves into poverty to receive long-term care protection.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, at least 70 percent of Americans over the age of 65 will need long-term care services at some point in their lives.
"CLASS is about allowing working Americans to take personal responsibility for planning ahead so they can age with dignity and independence," said Bruce Chernof, MD, president and CEO of The SCAN Foundation. "CLASS enrollees will have the power to choose the services they want in the setting most appropriate to their needs."
The current issue of PPAR, published by the National Academy on an Aging Society, is available for purchase at www.agingsociety.org. The authors include Lisa Shugarman, PhD, of The SCAN Foundation; Joshua Wiener, PhD, of RTI International; Walter Dawson of Oxford University; Barbara Manard, PhD, of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging; Anne Tumlinson, MMHS, of Avalere Health; Rhonda Richards of AARP; and Kathryn Roberts, PhD, of Ecumen.
More information about the individual grantees and The SCAN Foundation can be found at www.thescanfoundation.org.
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With funding from The SCAN Foundation, this installment of PPAR features seven articles that recount the origins of the CLASS Act, analyze the legislation's key provisions, and explore potential hurdles of implementation.
"We consider this issue of PPAR to represent the best of what the publication has to offer," said PPAR Editor Robert Hudson, PhD, chair of the Department of Social Policy at the Boston University School of Social Work. "It is timely, informed, and cutting edge. It goes beyond the headlines and delivers detailed accounts of the emergence of the CLASS Act to a broad audience of policy and academic leaders."
The CLASS Act introduces a voluntary, federally administered insurance program designed to provide middle-class Americans the new choice to plan ahead for personal care and supportive service needs in the face of functional impairment. Enrolled individuals no longer will have to be demonstrably poor or spend themselves into poverty to receive long-term care protection.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, at least 70 percent of Americans over the age of 65 will need long-term care services at some point in their lives.
"CLASS is about allowing working Americans to take personal responsibility for planning ahead so they can age with dignity and independence," said Bruce Chernof, MD, president and CEO of The SCAN Foundation. "CLASS enrollees will have the power to choose the services they want in the setting most appropriate to their needs."
The current issue of PPAR, published by the National Academy on an Aging Society, is available for purchase at www.agingsociety.org. The authors include Lisa Shugarman, PhD, of The SCAN Foundation; Joshua Wiener, PhD, of RTI International; Walter Dawson of Oxford University; Barbara Manard, PhD, of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging; Anne Tumlinson, MMHS, of Avalere Health; Rhonda Richards of AARP; and Kathryn Roberts, PhD, of Ecumen.
More information about the individual grantees and The SCAN Foundation can be found at www.thescanfoundation.org.
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Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Care Improvement Plus Announces Major Expansion in Georgia, South Carolina for 2010
/PRNewswire/ -- Care Improvement Plus, a leader in improving the quality of care for seniors with chronic illness and operator of the largest special needs plan in Georgia and South Carolina, has released the details of its 2010 Medicare health plan benefits, including a new state-wide plan to be offered to beneficiaries across both states.
Care Improvement Plus' new plan, "Care Improvement Plus Medicare Advantage" will provide comprehensive medical, hospital and prescription drug coverage, and a variety of valuable extra benefits including dental and vision coverage. In addition, the company has strengthened benefits for its chronic condition Special Needs Plan for Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with diabetes and/or heart failure, including lower premiums and generic drug copays across its Gold Rx plan options. The company currently has over 30,000 members in the region.
"Based on the success and quality achievements of our chronic condition plan, we felt there was opportunity for additional Medicare beneficiaries to benefit from our unique approach to managing care," said Frederick C. Dunlap, board chairman and chief executive officer of XLHealth, which owns and operates Care Improvement Plus. "We remain focused on delivering high-quality care and serving the underserved, with the added capability to offer enrollment to spouses and caregivers of our special needs plan members."
All Care Improvement Plus plans provide comprehensive Medicare coverage and a Part D prescription drug benefit, plus valuable benefits such as dental, vision, and transportation coverage, and care management support. In addition, all plans feature an open access provider network where members may go to any Medicare-approved provider that will accept payment from Care Improvement Plus.
"Our goal is to serve as a model for improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare spending for Georgia and South Carolina's costliest Medicare beneficiaries," continues Dunlap.
Care Improvement Plus will open enrollment on November 15, 2009 for services effective January 1, 2010. Those interested in learning more about Care Improvement Plus may call 1-800-711-1656, or visit www.careimprovementplus.com for more information.
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Care Improvement Plus' new plan, "Care Improvement Plus Medicare Advantage" will provide comprehensive medical, hospital and prescription drug coverage, and a variety of valuable extra benefits including dental and vision coverage. In addition, the company has strengthened benefits for its chronic condition Special Needs Plan for Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with diabetes and/or heart failure, including lower premiums and generic drug copays across its Gold Rx plan options. The company currently has over 30,000 members in the region.
"Based on the success and quality achievements of our chronic condition plan, we felt there was opportunity for additional Medicare beneficiaries to benefit from our unique approach to managing care," said Frederick C. Dunlap, board chairman and chief executive officer of XLHealth, which owns and operates Care Improvement Plus. "We remain focused on delivering high-quality care and serving the underserved, with the added capability to offer enrollment to spouses and caregivers of our special needs plan members."
All Care Improvement Plus plans provide comprehensive Medicare coverage and a Part D prescription drug benefit, plus valuable benefits such as dental, vision, and transportation coverage, and care management support. In addition, all plans feature an open access provider network where members may go to any Medicare-approved provider that will accept payment from Care Improvement Plus.
"Our goal is to serve as a model for improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare spending for Georgia and South Carolina's costliest Medicare beneficiaries," continues Dunlap.
Care Improvement Plus will open enrollment on November 15, 2009 for services effective January 1, 2010. Those interested in learning more about Care Improvement Plus may call 1-800-711-1656, or visit www.careimprovementplus.com for more information.
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Thursday, November 05, 2009
AARP Endorses Affordable Health Care for America Act
/PRNewswire/ -- Today AARP announced its endorsement of the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) and the accompanying Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act (H.R. 3961). The Association's support follows nearly two years of work with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to craft a health care reform plan that meets the needs of AARP's nearly 40 million members and all older Americans. Among those needs are reforms that strictly curb insurance companies' discrimination against older Americans and Medicare improvements that strengthen benefits while protecting the program for future generations.
"We started this debate more than two years ago with the twin goals of making coverage affordable to our younger members and protecting Medicare for seniors," said Jim Wordelman, State Director for AARP in Idaho. "We've read the Affordable Health Care for America Act and we can say with confidence that it meets those goals with improved benefits for people in Medicare and needed health insurance market reforms to help ensure every American can purchase affordable health coverage."
Today's endorsement marks the first time in this legislative battle that AARP has put its full weight behind a comprehensive health care reform package. In the coming days, AARP will be educating its members about the health care reform package through its publications, paid advertising and more than five million calls and e-mails to its grassroots activists.
The Affordable Health Care for America Act and the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act contain critical components AARP has been fighting for on behalf of its members and all older Americans to improve health care for them and their families. They include:
-- Protecting and strengthening Medicare for today's seniors and future
generations of retirees;
-- Ensuring seniors can see the doctor of their choice or find a doctor
if they need one by improving Medicare's payments to doctors;
-- Lowering drug costs for seniors by closing the Medicare Part D
"doughnut hole" and allowing Medicare to negotiate with drug makers
for lower drug prices;
-- Taking steps to reduce waste, fraud, abuse and inefficiency in the
Medicare program;
-- Requiring Medicare and insurance companies to provide for important
preventive services like screenings for diabetes, cancer and
osteoporosis free of charge;
-- Stopping insurance companies from denying you affordable coverage
because of your age;
-- Preventing insurance companies from denying you coverage if you have a
pre-existing condition or dropping your coverage if you get sick;
-- Limiting how much your insurance company can make you pay
out-of-pocket;
-- Providing affordable health insurance options for those who don't have
insurance; and
-- Providing benefits to help seniors and people with disabilities live
in their own homes and communities by establishing the Community
Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) program.
Wordelman added: "We cannot continue to let insurers price older Americans out of the market, just as we cannot stand idle while millions of seniors are forced to choose between their groceries and their prescriptions. AARP is proud to endorse the Affordable Health Care for America Act and the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act, and we urge members of the House to pass this critical package in the coming days to help fix our broken health care system."
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"We started this debate more than two years ago with the twin goals of making coverage affordable to our younger members and protecting Medicare for seniors," said Jim Wordelman, State Director for AARP in Idaho. "We've read the Affordable Health Care for America Act and we can say with confidence that it meets those goals with improved benefits for people in Medicare and needed health insurance market reforms to help ensure every American can purchase affordable health coverage."
Today's endorsement marks the first time in this legislative battle that AARP has put its full weight behind a comprehensive health care reform package. In the coming days, AARP will be educating its members about the health care reform package through its publications, paid advertising and more than five million calls and e-mails to its grassroots activists.
The Affordable Health Care for America Act and the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act contain critical components AARP has been fighting for on behalf of its members and all older Americans to improve health care for them and their families. They include:
-- Protecting and strengthening Medicare for today's seniors and future
generations of retirees;
-- Ensuring seniors can see the doctor of their choice or find a doctor
if they need one by improving Medicare's payments to doctors;
-- Lowering drug costs for seniors by closing the Medicare Part D
"doughnut hole" and allowing Medicare to negotiate with drug makers
for lower drug prices;
-- Taking steps to reduce waste, fraud, abuse and inefficiency in the
Medicare program;
-- Requiring Medicare and insurance companies to provide for important
preventive services like screenings for diabetes, cancer and
osteoporosis free of charge;
-- Stopping insurance companies from denying you affordable coverage
because of your age;
-- Preventing insurance companies from denying you coverage if you have a
pre-existing condition or dropping your coverage if you get sick;
-- Limiting how much your insurance company can make you pay
out-of-pocket;
-- Providing affordable health insurance options for those who don't have
insurance; and
-- Providing benefits to help seniors and people with disabilities live
in their own homes and communities by establishing the Community
Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) program.
Wordelman added: "We cannot continue to let insurers price older Americans out of the market, just as we cannot stand idle while millions of seniors are forced to choose between their groceries and their prescriptions. AARP is proud to endorse the Affordable Health Care for America Act and the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act, and we urge members of the House to pass this critical package in the coming days to help fix our broken health care system."
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Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Selecting Medicare Coverage: Four Considerations to Help Seniors Choose
/PRNewswire/ -- Open enrollment, the six-week period during which seniors can select healthcare coverage for 2010, begins Nov. 15. Health plans have begun sharing their costs and coverage, but making a choice can be a daunting task. Here are four considerations to help Medicare-eligible seniors select which Medicare coverage best meets their individual needs:
1. Understand the A, B, C and Ds of Medicare. There are four primary parts
to Medicare. Parts A and B cover hospital and medical expenses,
respectively. Parts C and D provide benefit and prescription drug
coverage through health insurance companies that are approved by
Medicare. Medicare Advantage plans include all of the coverage offered
by Parts A and B and can include prescription drug coverage under Part
D.
2. Compare costs. Premiums can range for $0 to hundreds of dollars per
month, depending upon the type of organization (nonprofit or
for-profit) and the type of coverage. Total plan costs include
premiums, co-payments and deductibles for everything from preventive
care to hospitalization.
3. Compare benefits and doctors. Does the plan have a large network of
doctors and specialists for you to choose from? Is your doctor and
preferred hospital in that network? Does the plan cover your
prescription medications?
4. Compare quality. Call the customer service number for the plans you're
considering. Does a live person answer the phone? Are they friendly,
helpful and knowledgeable? Does the plan offer value-added programs
that help you maintain or improve your health and independence? Does
the plan offer services to help your loved ones take care of you if
needed? Will the plan coordinate your care between doctors and
specialists?
Selecting Medicare coverage is an important decision, especially since Medicare rules indicate that members must maintain the coverage they've chosen for an entire year. Seniors currently enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans will soon receive letters from their health plans explaining any changes in coverage for 2010. "We recommend that people read this letter thoroughly to avoid any surprises in the coming year," said Tom Lescault, president of SCAN Health Plan Arizona. "Changes in government funding has forced many health plans to reduce benefits or increase costs. People need to make sure they are able to make informed decisions during open enrollment."
As part of an ongoing commitment to improving the lives of seniors, SCAN Health Plan Arizona is an exclusive sponsor of "Healthy Tips for Successful Aging" with ABC 15. Each week, the station airs 30-second health tips provided by SCAN. The health plan also is the exclusive studio sponsor for KOY radio and co-hosts "Senior Focus," a broadcast dedicated to senior-related issues.
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1. Understand the A, B, C and Ds of Medicare. There are four primary parts
to Medicare. Parts A and B cover hospital and medical expenses,
respectively. Parts C and D provide benefit and prescription drug
coverage through health insurance companies that are approved by
Medicare. Medicare Advantage plans include all of the coverage offered
by Parts A and B and can include prescription drug coverage under Part
D.
2. Compare costs. Premiums can range for $0 to hundreds of dollars per
month, depending upon the type of organization (nonprofit or
for-profit) and the type of coverage. Total plan costs include
premiums, co-payments and deductibles for everything from preventive
care to hospitalization.
3. Compare benefits and doctors. Does the plan have a large network of
doctors and specialists for you to choose from? Is your doctor and
preferred hospital in that network? Does the plan cover your
prescription medications?
4. Compare quality. Call the customer service number for the plans you're
considering. Does a live person answer the phone? Are they friendly,
helpful and knowledgeable? Does the plan offer value-added programs
that help you maintain or improve your health and independence? Does
the plan offer services to help your loved ones take care of you if
needed? Will the plan coordinate your care between doctors and
specialists?
Selecting Medicare coverage is an important decision, especially since Medicare rules indicate that members must maintain the coverage they've chosen for an entire year. Seniors currently enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans will soon receive letters from their health plans explaining any changes in coverage for 2010. "We recommend that people read this letter thoroughly to avoid any surprises in the coming year," said Tom Lescault, president of SCAN Health Plan Arizona. "Changes in government funding has forced many health plans to reduce benefits or increase costs. People need to make sure they are able to make informed decisions during open enrollment."
As part of an ongoing commitment to improving the lives of seniors, SCAN Health Plan Arizona is an exclusive sponsor of "Healthy Tips for Successful Aging" with ABC 15. Each week, the station airs 30-second health tips provided by SCAN. The health plan also is the exclusive studio sponsor for KOY radio and co-hosts "Senior Focus," a broadcast dedicated to senior-related issues.
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Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Vice President Biden, Secretary Sebelius Issue New Report on Seniors and Health Insurance Reform
Vice President Joe Biden and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today hosted a town hall meeting with seniors in Silver Spring, Md., and released a new report,
Health Insurance Reform and Medicare: Making Medicare Stronger for America's Seniors. The report, authored by HHS, outlines how health insurance reform will help seniors and answers key questions about President Obama's health insurance reform plan. The complete report is
available now at www.HealthReform.gov.
"We will protect seniors -- not burden them with out of pocket costs," said Vice President Biden. "The bottom line is, seniors will be better off under what we are proposing, and not a dollar from the Medicare trust fund will be used to pay for health insurance reform."
"Under health insurance reform, seniors will get better care and their health care costs will go down," said Secretary Sebelius. "Reform will strengthen Medicare, cut drug costs, and help ensure all seniors get the high-quality, affordable care they deserve."
The report highlights several problems in the current health care system and health insurance reform solutions such as:
* Preserving and strengthening Medicare.
According to the Medicare Trustees 2009 report, the Medicare Part A
Trust Fund will be exhausted by 2017. Health insurance reform will
extend the life of the Medicare Trust Fund by an additional four to five
years -- and delivery system reforms included in health insurance reform
have the potential to keep the Trust Fund solvent even longer into the
future. Health insurance reform will also reduce overpayments to private
plans and will clamp down on fraud and abuse to strengthen Medicare for
all seniors. Coupled with improvements in the quality of care, expansion
of the health care workforce, and reductions in out-of-pocket costs,
health insurance reform will ensure that Medicare will continue to
provide the high-quality, affordable coverage that America's seniors
deserve and expect.
* Cutting high prescription drug costs.
Prescription drug costs represent a significant expense for seniors.
While Medicare added a prescription drug benefit, this benefit includes
a coverage gap commonly called the "donut hole." In 2007, over 8 million
seniors hit the "donut hole." For those who are not low-income or have
not purchased other coverage, average drug costs in this coverage gap
are $340 per month, or $4,080 per year. Health insurance reform will
close the coverage gap in Medicare Part D over time, so seniors do not
have to worry about losing coverage for their drug costs. While the
closure of the coverage gap is phased in, health insurance reform will
also provide seniors with a discount of 50 percent on their brand name
medication costs in the coverage gap, saving thousands of dollars for
some seniors.
* Making preventive services free.
Many seniors do not receive recommended preventive and primary care,
leading to less effective and more expensive treatments. For example, 20
percent of women aged 50 and over did not receive a mammogram in the
past two years, and 38 percent of adults aged 50 and over have never had
a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. Seniors in Medicare must pay 20 percent
of the cost of many preventive services on their own. For a colonoscopy
that costs $700, this means that a senior must pay $140 -- a price that
can be prohibitively expensive. Under health insurance reform, a senior
would not pay anything for a screening colonoscopy or other preventive
services. Reform will eliminate any deductibles, copayments, or other
cost-sharing for obtaining preventive services, making them affordable
and accessible.
* Ending overpayments to private insurance companies that cost all
Medicare beneficiaries.
The federal government pays private insurance companies on average 14
percent more for providing coverage to Medicare Advantage beneficiaries
than it would pay for the same beneficiary in the traditional Medicare
program. There is no evidence that this extra payment leads to better
quality for Medicare beneficiaries, and all Medicare beneficiaries pay
the price of these excessive overpayments through higher premiums --
even the 78 percent of seniors who are not enrolled in a Medicare
Advantage plan. A typical couple in traditional Medicare will pay on
average nearly $90 next year to subsidize private insurance companies
that do not provide their Medicare benefits. Health insurance reform
will eliminate excessive government subsidies to Medicare Advantage
plans, which could save the federal government, taxpayers, and Medicare
beneficiaries well over $100 billion over the next 10 years.
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Health Insurance Reform and Medicare: Making Medicare Stronger for America's Seniors. The report, authored by HHS, outlines how health insurance reform will help seniors and answers key questions about President Obama's health insurance reform plan. The complete report is
available now at www.HealthReform.gov.
"We will protect seniors -- not burden them with out of pocket costs," said Vice President Biden. "The bottom line is, seniors will be better off under what we are proposing, and not a dollar from the Medicare trust fund will be used to pay for health insurance reform."
"Under health insurance reform, seniors will get better care and their health care costs will go down," said Secretary Sebelius. "Reform will strengthen Medicare, cut drug costs, and help ensure all seniors get the high-quality, affordable care they deserve."
The report highlights several problems in the current health care system and health insurance reform solutions such as:
* Preserving and strengthening Medicare.
According to the Medicare Trustees 2009 report, the Medicare Part A
Trust Fund will be exhausted by 2017. Health insurance reform will
extend the life of the Medicare Trust Fund by an additional four to five
years -- and delivery system reforms included in health insurance reform
have the potential to keep the Trust Fund solvent even longer into the
future. Health insurance reform will also reduce overpayments to private
plans and will clamp down on fraud and abuse to strengthen Medicare for
all seniors. Coupled with improvements in the quality of care, expansion
of the health care workforce, and reductions in out-of-pocket costs,
health insurance reform will ensure that Medicare will continue to
provide the high-quality, affordable coverage that America's seniors
deserve and expect.
* Cutting high prescription drug costs.
Prescription drug costs represent a significant expense for seniors.
While Medicare added a prescription drug benefit, this benefit includes
a coverage gap commonly called the "donut hole." In 2007, over 8 million
seniors hit the "donut hole." For those who are not low-income or have
not purchased other coverage, average drug costs in this coverage gap
are $340 per month, or $4,080 per year. Health insurance reform will
close the coverage gap in Medicare Part D over time, so seniors do not
have to worry about losing coverage for their drug costs. While the
closure of the coverage gap is phased in, health insurance reform will
also provide seniors with a discount of 50 percent on their brand name
medication costs in the coverage gap, saving thousands of dollars for
some seniors.
* Making preventive services free.
Many seniors do not receive recommended preventive and primary care,
leading to less effective and more expensive treatments. For example, 20
percent of women aged 50 and over did not receive a mammogram in the
past two years, and 38 percent of adults aged 50 and over have never had
a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. Seniors in Medicare must pay 20 percent
of the cost of many preventive services on their own. For a colonoscopy
that costs $700, this means that a senior must pay $140 -- a price that
can be prohibitively expensive. Under health insurance reform, a senior
would not pay anything for a screening colonoscopy or other preventive
services. Reform will eliminate any deductibles, copayments, or other
cost-sharing for obtaining preventive services, making them affordable
and accessible.
* Ending overpayments to private insurance companies that cost all
Medicare beneficiaries.
The federal government pays private insurance companies on average 14
percent more for providing coverage to Medicare Advantage beneficiaries
than it would pay for the same beneficiary in the traditional Medicare
program. There is no evidence that this extra payment leads to better
quality for Medicare beneficiaries, and all Medicare beneficiaries pay
the price of these excessive overpayments through higher premiums --
even the 78 percent of seniors who are not enrolled in a Medicare
Advantage plan. A typical couple in traditional Medicare will pay on
average nearly $90 next year to subsidize private insurance companies
that do not provide their Medicare benefits. Health insurance reform
will eliminate excessive government subsidies to Medicare Advantage
plans, which could save the federal government, taxpayers, and Medicare
beneficiaries well over $100 billion over the next 10 years.
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