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State Medicaid agencies are bracing for hundreds of millions in new obligations thanks to a significant increase in Medicare premiums.
This past summer, the 2015 Medicare Trustees Report projected Part B premiums would increase by 52%—up to $159.30 a month from $104.90.
However, most Medicare beneficiaries will be spared as roughly 70% pay their Part B premiums through deductions from their Social Security benefit payments. A policy called “hold harmless” shields beneficiaries from any premium hikes that outpace cost-of-living increases.
This policy ensures that Social Security check amounts will not decline from one year to the next because of increases in Medicare Part B premiums.
Not protected from the premium increase are those who do not pay their Part B premiums through deductions from their Social Security benefit payments. This group includes those who are newly enrolled in Medicare and individuals dually eligible for Medicaid.
“Since dually eligible beneficiaries themselves do not pay the Part B premium out of their own pocket, the additional cost would fall directly on the states,” said Juliette Cubanski, associate director of the Program on Medicare Policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation. “If the actual increase is anywhere in line with the projected increase, it could be a pretty big impact in terms of the additional premium costs that states would bear.
This past summer, the 2015 Medicare Trustees Report projected Part B premiums would increase by 52%—up to $159.30 a month from $104.90.
However, most Medicare beneficiaries will be spared as roughly 70% pay their Part B premiums through deductions from their Social Security benefit payments. A policy called “hold harmless” shields beneficiaries from any premium hikes that outpace cost-of-living increases.
This policy ensures that Social Security check amounts will not decline from one year to the next because of increases in Medicare Part B premiums.
Not protected from the premium increase are those who do not pay their Part B premiums through deductions from their Social Security benefit payments. This group includes those who are newly enrolled in Medicare and individuals dually eligible for Medicaid.
“Since dually eligible beneficiaries themselves do not pay the Part B premium out of their own pocket, the additional cost would fall directly on the states,” said Juliette Cubanski, associate director of the Program on Medicare Policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation. “If the actual increase is anywhere in line with the projected increase, it could be a pretty big impact in terms of the additional premium costs that states would bear.