Medicare monthly premiums for 2012 to be lower than expected

[trof]

WASHINGTON—
— Medicare's basic monthly premium will be lower than expected next year, the government announced Thursday. That could pay political dividends for President Obama and for Democrats struggling to win over seniors in a close election.

The new Part B premium for outpatient care will be $99.90 a month for 2012, about $7 less than projected as recently as May.

The bottom line: Most seniors will pay an additional $3.50 a month next year, instead of $10.20, as forecast earlier.

Some younger retirees who enrolled recently will actually see their rates go down. They have been paying as much as $115.40 a month. Instead, they'll also pay $99.90 next year.

The main reason for the lower-than-expected premiums has to do with the interaction between Social Security cost-of-living adjustments and Medicare.
http://www.latimes.com/health/la-na-medicare-premiums-20111028,0,501314.story

[MineralMan]

1. This is good. I was in the group with the higher premiums,

so this will be a net plus for me. Combined with the 3.6% COLA, it will make a small difference to me that will result in some increase that will be significant over a year's time.

[RKP5637]

2. K&R !!! Great News !!! n/t

[CountAllVotes]

3. Wow!

This is great news! I was certain that the COLA would be eaten up by a big increase in Part B premiums. :party:

:kick:

[NV Whino]

4. But still raised

This is what is known as throwing us a bone, folks. Leak a rate that gets us all up in arms, and then we eat it up when the real raise comes in lower.

[CountAllVotes]

5. according to the "formula"

Whatever that formula might be -- the cost of Medicare is never supposed to go up more than the COLA which is 3.6%, hence the premium increase of $3.50 on $96.40 as it should be.

[trof]

6. True dat.

[2Design]

7. Why do we pay anything? I thought this was a given at 65 - not there yet

but did not expect another monthly bill for something I cannot afford

[trof]

8. Basic Medicare isn't free.

Most folks have the monthly fee deducted from their S/S retirement checks.
And then most buy a supplemental policy that covers what Medicare doesn't.