Post by PamIsMe on Oct 15, 2012 11:45:42 GMT -6
Our Medicare premiums
In March 2010, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act. The overall goal of this legislation is to increase access to quality, affordable healthcare for uninsured individuals and their families. Through the new law, which will be implemented in phases over the next several years, health insurance will be extended to approximately 32 million Americans.
In September 2010, several provisions of the law went into effect and may impact you and your family. These include:
Providing access to insurance for individuals with pre-existing conditions
Extending coverage for young adults - up to age 26 - on their parents' plans
Providing free preventative care, such as immunizations and mammograms
Ending lifetime and most annual limits to care
On June 16, 2011, the National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council announced the release of the National Prevention Strategy, a comprehensive plan intended to help increase the number of Americans who are healthy at every stage of life. The National Prevention Strategy provides an unprecedented opportunity to shift the nation from a focus on sickness and disease to one based on wellness and prevention. It presents vision, goals, recommendations and action items that public, private, nonprofit organizations and individuals can take to reduce preventable death, disease and disability in the United States.
On July 1, 2011, the premiums for the three Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) options were lowered significantly in several states. For those already enrolled in a PCIP plan in those states, the rate was reduced automatically. PCIP plans help individuals who have previously been denied insurance because of a pre-existing condition.
The Affordable Care Act is holding insurance companies accountable, putting an end to the worst abuses, such as capping or dropping your coverage when you get sick.
The Affordable Care Act is strengthening the Medicare benefits you already enjoy.
People enrolled in traditional Medicare will save an average of $4,200 in health care expenses over the next 10 years.
You now have access to annual wellness visits with your doctor, free of charge.
If you fall into Medicare's coverage gap for prescription drugs, you now get a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugsāand by 2020, the doughnut hole will close for good.
Progress
Medicare now covers preventive services free of charge, including these and many more:
Mammograms
Bone density screenings - every 2 years
Flu shots
Screenings for breast cancer - mammograms - Women age 40 and older are eligible for a screening mammogram every 12 months. Medicare also covers one baseline mammogram for women between ages 35 and 39. Medicare does not cover screening mammograms for women younger than age 35. Medicare can also cover a diagnostic mammogram when there is a sign or symptom of breast disease. Medicare covers diagnostic mammograms for both women and men whenever they are medically necessary.
Colon cancer screenings - colonoscopies - once every 24 months if you are at high risk for colorectal cancer. If you are not at high risk for colorectal cancer, it is covered once every 10 years, but not within 48 months of a screening flexible sigmoidoscopy.
Blood pressure and cholesterol checks
50 percent discount on brand-name prescription drugs if you fall into the Medicare doughnut hole
Free annual wellness visits with your doctor
Free preventive care, like colon cancer screenings
Lower Medicare costs and premiums
In March 2010, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act. The overall goal of this legislation is to increase access to quality, affordable healthcare for uninsured individuals and their families. Through the new law, which will be implemented in phases over the next several years, health insurance will be extended to approximately 32 million Americans.
In September 2010, several provisions of the law went into effect and may impact you and your family. These include:
Providing access to insurance for individuals with pre-existing conditions
Extending coverage for young adults - up to age 26 - on their parents' plans
Providing free preventative care, such as immunizations and mammograms
Ending lifetime and most annual limits to care
On June 16, 2011, the National Prevention, Health Promotion, and Public Health Council announced the release of the National Prevention Strategy, a comprehensive plan intended to help increase the number of Americans who are healthy at every stage of life. The National Prevention Strategy provides an unprecedented opportunity to shift the nation from a focus on sickness and disease to one based on wellness and prevention. It presents vision, goals, recommendations and action items that public, private, nonprofit organizations and individuals can take to reduce preventable death, disease and disability in the United States.
On July 1, 2011, the premiums for the three Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) options were lowered significantly in several states. For those already enrolled in a PCIP plan in those states, the rate was reduced automatically. PCIP plans help individuals who have previously been denied insurance because of a pre-existing condition.
The Affordable Care Act is holding insurance companies accountable, putting an end to the worst abuses, such as capping or dropping your coverage when you get sick.
The Affordable Care Act is strengthening the Medicare benefits you already enjoy.
People enrolled in traditional Medicare will save an average of $4,200 in health care expenses over the next 10 years.
You now have access to annual wellness visits with your doctor, free of charge.
If you fall into Medicare's coverage gap for prescription drugs, you now get a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugsāand by 2020, the doughnut hole will close for good.
Progress
Medicare now covers preventive services free of charge, including these and many more:
Mammograms
Bone density screenings - every 2 years
Flu shots
Screenings for breast cancer - mammograms - Women age 40 and older are eligible for a screening mammogram every 12 months. Medicare also covers one baseline mammogram for women between ages 35 and 39. Medicare does not cover screening mammograms for women younger than age 35. Medicare can also cover a diagnostic mammogram when there is a sign or symptom of breast disease. Medicare covers diagnostic mammograms for both women and men whenever they are medically necessary.
Colon cancer screenings - colonoscopies - once every 24 months if you are at high risk for colorectal cancer. If you are not at high risk for colorectal cancer, it is covered once every 10 years, but not within 48 months of a screening flexible sigmoidoscopy.
Blood pressure and cholesterol checks
50 percent discount on brand-name prescription drugs if you fall into the Medicare doughnut hole
Free annual wellness visits with your doctor
Free preventive care, like colon cancer screenings
Lower Medicare costs and premiums