Changes to Medicare in 2020
An increase in premiums and deductibles, an all-improved Plan Finder tool, end of the Part D donut hole — these are some of the changes in Medicare for 2020.
MEDICARE PART A
Part A, which covers hospitalization costs, will see an increase in premium based on their work history.
For those with 30-40 quarters of work history, the monthly premium will be $252 in 2020 (up $12 from 2019);
For those with less than 30 quarters of work history, the monthly premium will be $458 in 2020 (up $21 from 2019).
Part A inpatient hospital deductible will increase to $1,408 in 2020 (up from $1364 in 2019).
Medicare patients who need beyond 60 days of inpatient coverage will pay a coinsurance of $352/day in 2020 as coinsurance, till the 90th
The first 20 days of a skilled nursing facility are paid by the deductible. From days 21 through 100, the patient will owe $176/day in coinsurance in 2020.
You can read more about what these insurance terms mean here: https:// patientsrising.org/health-insurance-terms/.
MEDICARE PART B
The monthly premium for Medicare Part B will be $144.60 in 2020 (up from $135.50 in 2019).
The Part B deductible will be $198 in 2020 (up from $185 in 2019).
Rising costs on physician-administered drugs is mainly responsible for the increase in the 2020 premiums and deductible.
MEDIGAP PLANS C AND F
These plans will not be available for newly eligible Medicare enrollees in 2020. Those who are already eligible before 2020 can continue to enroll in them or apply at a later time. Part B deductibles are covered under Medigap Plans C and F, but other Medigap enrollees have to pay their Part B premiums out-of-pocket. For more information you can visit MedicareInteractive.org.
MEDICARE ADVANTAGE
The 2020 MA premiums will average $23/ month.
For plans that have an integrated Part D prescription coverage, the monthly premium will be $36 in 2020.
PART D DONUT HOLE
The maximum allowable deductible in 2020 for standard Part D plans is $435.
The out-of-pocket threshold increased to $6,350 in 2020.
Enrollees in standard Part D plans will pay 25% of their brand name or generic cost after having met their deductible, till they reach the catastrophic threshold.