Health reform passes Congress: What happens next?
This week’s health care changes will prompt many important questions. Below you’ll find answers to questions about how the Senate bill may impact the Medicare Advantage program.
If you have additional questions about your plan, please call Humana Customer Service at the toll free number on the back of your Humana insurance ID card.
Will this legislation cause Medicare Advantage plans to change this year?
Whether or not the Senate passes the reconciliation bill, 2010 Medicare Advantage plans will not change in any way. Medicare Advantage plans are set for this calendar year and may only change at the beginning of the next year. Medicare Advantage members will receive prior notice of any changes.
What does reform mean for the Medicare Advantage program?
Health reform will not eliminate the Medicare Advantage program.
Health reform legislation cuts Medicare Advantage funding in future years to help pay for reform. That could eventually mean higher premiums, lower benefits or fewer plans to choose from in certain areas of the country.
The just-passed Senate bill (H.R. 3590) includes approximately $120 billion in Medicare Advantage funding cuts over ten years. The reconciliation bill (H.R. 4872) -- that the House has sent to the Senate -- would increase Medicare Advantage cuts to $136 billion over ten years.
Despite these funding cuts, many Medicare Advantage plans offer unique and valuable solutions not found in original Medicare or Medicare Supplement plans. Examples include wellness programs, integrated prescription drug benefits, care coordination, health education tools, and disease management programs. These features should make Medicare Advantage an attractive program for the government and for many Medicare beneficiaries for years to come.
How will health care reform change the Medicare Part D prescription drug program?
When it comes to Medicare Part D’s “doughnut hole,” nothing is decided.
The Senate bill would reduce out-of-pocket costs in the coverage gap. However, the reconciliation bill that the House has sent to the Senate would eliminate the coverage gap by 2020 and in the meantime, provide some relief for those who reach the coverage gap. The Senate will now consider that reconciliation bill.
What is Humana’s stance on health care reform and the recently passed health reform bill?
*Specific information about 2011 Medicare Advantage benefits will be sent to Medicare Advantage members in their Annual Notice of Change, which is mailed to members in October, or you can visit Medicare’s official Web site -www.medicare.gov for more information.