Life After 50 Expo

Dear Marci,

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Dear Marci,

I am working on my budget for the new year and wondering what my Medicare costs will be in 2022?

-Emma (San Jose, CA)


Dear Emma,

Your Medicare coverage and costs can change each year, so it is important to understand and review your benefits. Here is an overview of new costs in 2022.

Part A (Hospital insurance)

Part A premium:
Free if you’ve worked 10 years or more
$274 per month if you’ve worked 7.5 to 10 years
$499 per month if you’ve worked fewer than 7.5 years
Part A hospital deductible:
$1,556 each benefit period
Part A hospital coinsurance:
$0 for the first 60 days of inpatient care each benefit period
$389 per day for days 61-90 each benefit period
$778 per lifetime reserve day after day 90 in a benefit period
(You have 60 lifetime reserve days that can only be used once. They’re not renewable.)
Skilled nursing facility insurance:
$0 for the first 20 days of inpatient care each benefit period
$194.50 per day for days 21-100 each benefit period
Part B (Medical insurance)
Part B premium: $170.10
If your annual income is higher than $91,000 for an individual ($182,000 for a couple), you will pay a higher Part B premium
Part B deductible: $233 per year
Part B coinsurance: 20% for most services Part B covers
Part D (Prescription drug coverage)
National average Part D premium: $33.37 per month
Part D maximum deductible: $480 per year
Coverage gap beings: $4,430
Catastrophic coverage begins: $7,050
Note that if you have a Medigap policy, your budgeting may look a little different. You pay a monthly premium for the Medigap policy, which in turn pays part or all of certain costs after Original Medicare pays. For example, a Medigap policy can cover the cost of your Part B coinsurance or inpatient hospital deductible. Medigap premiums vary throughout the country, but in general they range from $100 to $300 per month.

If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, your plan administers your Medicare coverage. Remember that most people with Medicare, whether they have Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage Plan, pay the Part B monthly premium. Some people with a Medicare Advantage Plan may also pay an additional monthly premium for that plan.

If you have the same Medicare Advantage Plan in 2022 as you did in 2021, your plan should have sent you an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) or Evidence of Coverage (EOC) notice explaining any changes for the coming year. Review this notice to understand your plan’s costs, covered services, and rules. Contact your plan if you did not receive these documents in the fall or want another copy. If you chose a new Medicare Advantage Plan, you should get an EOC for the new plan and you can review that document to understand the costs associated with the plan for 2022.

I hope this helps with your budgeting!

-Marci

Dear Marci,

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Dear Marci,
 I enrolled in Medicare about six months ago. My friend told me that the Fall Open Enrollment Period for Medicare is coming up. What is Fall Open Enrollment, and is there anything I need to do during this time? -April (Montpelier, VT)

 Dear April, 
Fall Open Enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7 each year. During this time, you can make changes to your health insurance coverage, including adding, dropping, or changing your Medicare coverage. Even if you are happy with your current health and drug coverage, Fall Open Enrollment is the time to review what you have, compare it with other options, and make sure that your current coverage still meets your needs for the coming year.  You can make as many changes as you need to your Medicare coverage during Fall Open Enrollment.

The changes you can make include: Joining a new Medicare Advantage Plan Joining a new Part D prescription drug plan Switching from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan Switching from a Medicare Advantage Plan to Original Medicare (with or without a Part D plan) Regardless of how you receive your Medicare coverage, you should consider:  Your access to health care providers you want to see Your access to preferred pharmacies Your access to benefits and services you need The total costs for insurance premiums, deductibles, and cost-sharing amounts 

 If you have Original Medicare, visit www.medicare.gov or read the 2021 Medicare & You handbook to learn about Medicare’s benefits for the upcoming year. You should review any increases to Original Medicare premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance charges. 

 If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan or a stand-alone Part D plan, read your plan’s Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) and/or Evidence of Coverage (EOC). Review these notices for any changes in: The plan’s costs The plan’s benefits and coverage rules The plan’s formulary (list of drugs your plan covers) Make sure that your drugs will still be covered next year and that your providers and pharmacies are still in the plan’s network.

If you are unhappy with any of your plan’s changes, you can enroll in a new plan. If you want assistance reviewing your options, contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for unbiased counseling. To contact your SHIP, visit www.shiptacenter.org or call 877-839-2675. 
 
Even if you are happy with your current Medicare coverage, consider other Medicare health and drug plan options in your area. For example, even if you do not plan to change your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, you should check to see if there is another plan in your area that will offer you better health and/or drug coverage at a more affordable price. Research shows that people with Medicare prescription drug coverage could lower their costs by shopping among plans each year; there could be another Part D plan in your area that covers the drugs you take with fewer restrictions and/or lower prices. -Marci 

Dear Marci,

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Dear Marci, I will turn 65 soon and need to enroll in Medicare. I’ve heard that there are different parts of Medicare. What are those parts? -Aurelio (Cleveland, OH)

 Dear Aurelio, There are four parts of Medicare: Part A, Part B, Part C, and Part D. Part A provides coverage for inpatient hospitalization, skilled nursing facility stays, home health care, and hospice care. Part B provides outpatient coverage, including for physician services, diagnostic tests, durable medical equipment, and outpatient hospital services. Part C is an alternate way to receive your Medicare benefits; provides Part A inpatient/hospital and Part B outpatient/medical coverage and supplemental benefits not covered by Original Medicare (see below for more information). Part D provides prescription drug coverage. Most beneficiaries choose to receive their Parts A and B benefits through Original Medicare, the traditional fee-for-service program offered directly through the federal government. It is sometimes called Traditional Medicare or Fee-for-Service (FFS) Medicare. Under Original Medicare, the government pays directly for the health care services you receive. You can see any doctor and hospital that takes Medicare (and most do) anywhere in the country. In Original Medicare: You go directly to the doctor or hospital when you need care. You do not need to get prior permission/authorization from Medicare or your primary care doctor. You are responsible for a monthly premium for Part B. Some also pay a premium for Part A. You typically owe a coinsurance for each service you receive. There are limits on the amounts that doctors and hospitals can charge for your care. If you want prescription drug coverage with Original Medicare, in most cases you will need to actively choose and join a stand-alone Medicare private drug plan (PDP). Note: There are a number of government programs that help reduce your health care and prescription drug costs if you meet the eligibility requirements. Unless you choose otherwise, you will have Original Medicare when you enroll in Medicare. Instead of Original Medicare, in most areas you have the option of getting your Medicare benefits from a Medicare Advantage Plan, also called Part C or Medicare private health plan. This means that you must still pay your monthly Part B premium (and your Part A premium, if you have one). Medicare Advantage Plans must offer, at minimum, the same benefits as Original Medicare (those covered under Parts A and B) but can do so with different costs and coverage restrictions. You also typically get Part D as part of your Medicare Advantage benefits package (MAPD). Many plans also cover supplemental benefits that are not covered by Original Medicare, like dental care, vision care, and gym memberships. Many different kinds of Medicare Advantage Plans are available. You may pay a monthly premium for this coverage, in addition to your Part B premium.  -Marci 

Simple Yoga Breathing Exercise!

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Here is a complete, three part Yoga breathing exercise. You will find it both easy and healthful.

The Dirga Pranayama (Three Part Breath) is one of the basic pranayamas (or breathing exercises) of yoga. Sometimes called the “Complete Breath,” this pranayama is often the first one that beginners learn. The Three Part Breath calms the mind, centers it, and draws the breather’s concentration into the moment.

The Three Part Breath is therefore useful to learn even for those who wish to relax. Knowing how to relax (and actually relaxing) lessens the harmful effects of stress on the body and makes restful sleep easier to accomplish. It encourages proper breathing from the diaphragm, clears residual carbon dioxide from the lungs, and oxygenates the blood.

It’s often done while sitting comfortably in a cross-legged position, though it can also be done while lying flat on the back. Beginners may find it easier to learn this breath while lying down, since you can better feel the breath moving through your body.

To perform the Three Part Breath, lie on your back (or sit the in the comfortable cross-legged position) and close your eyes. If you’re sitting, make sure your spine is straight and erect. Relax your body and face. Observe your natural breathing patterns while trying to avoid any notice of distracting thoughts so your focus is on the breathing.

Inhale through your nose, filling the belly with your breath as if it’s a balloon; exhale, expelling all breath from your belly through your nose, pulling in the stomach to make sure it’s empty of air. Make sure your breathing is relaxed and smooth, without straining. Repeat this several times, and then shift to the next type of breath.

Perform the next inhale like the one before, except, when the belly is full of air, breath in a little more so the air enters the lower chest. Your rib cage should expand. Exhale from the chest first, then exhale from the belly as described for the previous type of breath. Repeat this for several times before transitioning to the third and final type of breath in this pranayama.

Inhale into the belly, then lower chest, then upper chest so it expands and lifts your collarbones. Exhale through the nose, from the upper chest first, then lower chest, then the belly. Continue this for about ten breaths.

To continue with the Three Part Breath, restart with the belly breath. With practice, you’ll be able to transition smoothly between each type of breath in this pranayama without pausing. This method of breathing is something most people can use and is especially helpful when first starting a new yoga workout.