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Medicare Advantage patients could see bills rise next year
CNN ^ | 4/1/13 | Jen Christensen,

Posted on 04/01/2013 4:08:26 PM PDT by Jean S

(CNN) -- Millions of Americans who get their health insurance through the Medicare Advantage plan could soon be paying more for coverage, according to an announcement expected Monday.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will announce on Monday the final Medicare Advantage rates for 2014, which are expected to be cut, saving the government money -- but potentially costing the public more.

CMS had initially proposed a 2.3% reduction in what the government pays the insurance companies that provide the plans. Upset by that scenario, the insurance companies have spent the public comment period time lobbying legislators and running ads against the cut.

Ads from the America's Health Insurance Plans' Coalition for Medicare Choices called the proposal "drastic" and "too much" and featured seniors saying they can't afford to pay more for health care.

About 25% of the 47 million Americans on Medicare pay more to have Medicare Advantage. The plans are run by private insurance companies that are reimbursed by the government for doing so.

The plans vary, but they offer the elderly more than they would get with regular Medicare. Most plans offer prescription drug coverage; some also offer dental and vision. All the plans cap a person's out-of-pocket expenses, while regular Medicare does not.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cms; hhs; medicareadvantage; obamacare

1 posted on 04/01/2013 4:08:26 PM PDT by Jean S
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To: Jean S

My prescription copay increased $80.00 per month on the 1st of this year.


2 posted on 04/01/2013 4:12:49 PM PDT by SWAMPSNIPER (The Second Amendment, a Matter of Fact, Not a Matter of Opinion)
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To: Jean S

We’re all screwed because we don’t vote right.


3 posted on 04/01/2013 4:24:39 PM PDT by Humidston (For the first time in my adult life I FEAR my government.)
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To: Jean S
Medicare Advantage patients could see bills rise next year

That's ok, because half of them will be consigned to the death wards to cut costs anyways.

/s

4 posted on 04/01/2013 4:31:10 PM PDT by Caipirabob (Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
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To: Jean S

I’ve noticed that the media doesn’t seem as reticent as they usually are in reporting this story. I wonder if it’s because they know, as some of us think, that this was always intended to lead to single-payer, completely socialised “healthcare” and they’re helping to lay the groundwork. They can just ignore that none of this was “supposed” to happen.


5 posted on 04/01/2013 4:56:16 PM PDT by mrsmel (One Who Can See)
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To: SWAMPSNIPER

as long as my rates keep going up, I seriously am worried about other peoples....the rats got their usual AARP crowd in their pocket so let them suffer along with we workers...


6 posted on 04/01/2013 4:57:30 PM PDT by cherry
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To: cherry

You may be right about AARP members, but seniors as a group went heavily for Romney.

That’s one of the demographic problems we face as 2.5 million of them die every year and are replaced by young, mostly minority, overwhelmingly D voters.


7 posted on 04/01/2013 5:00:54 PM PDT by nascarnation (Baraq's economic policy: trickle up poverty)
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To: Jean S

And thanks to the CBS/NBC/AARP, etc.. it will be... “those damn Republicans...”


8 posted on 04/01/2013 5:02:14 PM PDT by autumnraine (America how long will you be so deaf and dumb to thoe tumbril wheels carrying you to the guillotine?)
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To: SWAMPSNIPER

Check out the conditions and coverages of various plans.

In my state one MA plan has a $150 deductible before their prescription drug plan kicks in. Other MA plans have no deductible.

MA premiums vary from $0 to over $200, depending on the coverage types.


9 posted on 04/01/2013 5:18:42 PM PDT by TomGuy
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To: Jean S

They blame Republicans. All you need to know.


10 posted on 04/01/2013 5:20:26 PM PDT by Cyber Liberty (I am a dissident. Will you join me? My name is John....)
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To: mrsmel
I wonder if it’s because they know, as some of us think, that this was always intended to lead to single-payer, completely socialised “healthcare” and they’re helping to lay the groundwork.

In the article, Gretchen Jacobson, a health care economist, says: "You could see a situation where companies may want out of the Medicare Advantage insurance business in some regions."
11 posted on 04/01/2013 5:23:23 PM PDT by TomGuy
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To: cherry

“the rats got their usual AARP crowd in their pocket “

Anyone that belongs to AARP is a socialist fool!


12 posted on 04/01/2013 5:41:36 PM PDT by dalereed
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To: Jean S

Just something else for Barry to blame on the dumbass GOP! They’ll fall for it too.


13 posted on 04/01/2013 6:21:03 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (The GOP will never get another cent or vote from me. Thanks to the eight gangbangers.)
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To: Jean S

Our government sucks in every way. Demorats and libtard ass hats prove me wrong. You communist fu*ks.


14 posted on 04/01/2013 7:31:34 PM PDT by rhubarbk (BHO = FUBAR)
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To: Jean S

I don’t mind paying more for this product/service. Costs are going up and I should pay my way. Now if we could just get the dems to do likewise.


15 posted on 04/01/2013 7:48:51 PM PDT by chooseascreennamepat (It only takes one to start hostilities. It takes two to agree to end them.)
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To: Jean S

CMS reversed itself. Instead of 2 percent cuts there will be a 3 percent increase.


16 posted on 04/01/2013 8:14:44 PM PDT by Retired Chemist
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To: Jean S
Medicare Advantage patients could see bills rise next year...no kiddin' - the 700 billion Obama cut from Medicare to make the rest of Obamacare "affordable" came mainly from the Advantage program - and now AARP, which supported Obamacare in its entirety, is busy selling Advantage plans to those who will lose the coverage they previously had - welcome to LaLa land....
17 posted on 04/01/2013 9:26:04 PM PDT by Intolerant in NJ
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To: Jean S

So, I read the headline, and I’m sitting here shakin’ my head thinkin’ “WELL, NO SH@$, SHERLOCK!”

Since WHEN is it “NEWS” that some Democrat-enacted ANYTHING caused costs to INCREASE??

I am weary of brain-damaged people acting all shocked and surprised when the inevitable actually happens. It’s not as if nobody told them this would happen — YEARS AGO!

Hey CNN!! Ya pay peanuts; ya get monkeys!! Shaddap about it, already!!


18 posted on 04/02/2013 6:47:21 PM PDT by HKMk23 (Cultures succumb not to ideas, but to superior cultures. Invoke the "Super Culture." Matt. 9:38)
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