Budget Proposal Seeks Home Health Care Copay

As we head into the wrap up of OEP Congress and the President will be busy trying to work on making Medicare a fiscally viable program. One of the latest proposals would affect Medicare’s Home Health Care benefit:

• A large portion of the proposed budgetary increase is supposed to come from instituting $100 Medicare copayments for Medicare patients who use home health care. 
• The $100 copayment is supposed to produce $730 million from patients who currently use home health care but do not pay for the services they receive.
• The proposed copayment would apply to episodes of care requiring five or more visits over a period of 60 days or less, which in 2008 would have applied to 63 percent of episodes.
• The problem with the assumption that many people are using home health care that could instead seek outpatient care is that home health care prevents a lot of inpatient hospital stays.

Join us at Senior Marketing Specialist for the first of two webinars this Wednesday November 20^th to find out more about an inexpensive answer to help your clients recover at home, regardless of other coverage including Medicare.

Important Reminder:

Updated Enrollment Materials
You can continue to use 2013 Enrollment Kits until 2014 enrollment materials become available. Additional information will be provided. 

You should also continue to collect 2013 premium amounts until 2014 rates are finalized and communicated to you. Insured members will be billed or credited for any difference, if applicable.

Remember, it is important to let consumers know that AARP Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans will cover any changes in Medicare copayments and deductibles for 2014.

Source: UHC Focus 09/18/2013