CMS Has Announced The 2019 Copy/Deductibles The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced their 2019 Copay/Deductibles. Listed below are basic costs for people with Medicare. 2019 Copay/Deductibles 2018 2019 Part A Deductible $1,340 $1,364 Part B Deductible $183 $185 Part A Coinsurance Days 61 — 90 $335 $341 Days 91 — 150 (Lifetime Reserve Days*) $670 $682 Skilled Nursing Home Days 21 — 100 $167.50 $170.50 Standard Part B Monthly Premium $134 $135.50 High Deductible Plan F $2,240 $2,300 Plan K Out of Pocket $5,240 $5,560 Plan L Out
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“Evidence mounts that an eye scan may detect early Alzheimer’s disease”
“Evidence mounts that an eye scan may detect early Alzheimer’s disease,” Science Daily “Results from two studies show that a new, non-invasive imaging device can see signs of Alzheimer’s disease in a matter of seconds. The researchers show that the small blood vessels in the retina at the back of the eye are altered in patients with Alzheimer’s. Even patients who have a family history of Alzheimer’s but have no symptoms show these telltale signs. And they showed that they can distinguish between people with Alzheimer’s and those with only mild cognitive impairment. Results from these studies are being presented
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Clippings, Industry News, and Long-Term Care.
“How Much Will Boomers, Millennials Get in Retirement?”
“How Much Will Boomers, Millennials Get in Retirement?,” by Ginger Szala, ThinkAdvisor “The Urban Institute has released its most recent projections on what baby boomer retirees as well as Generation Xers and millennials will be receiving in Social Security and Medicare benefits, updated with the latest information based on income, prices, mortality and related factors. Overall, the average-income single boomer retiring in 2020 will receive about $500,000 in total benefits, while millennials who turn 65 around 2050 will receive roughly $1 million in total benefits, according to authors C. Eugene Steuerle and Caleb Quakenbush in their report, Social Security and
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Clippings, Industry News, and Long-Term Care.
“Reimbursement limitations on home healthcare are being loosened”
“Reimbursement limitations on home healthcare are being loosened,” by Shelby Livingston, Modern HealthCare “Home healthcare programs similar to Blue Shield’s are proliferating as health plans and at-risk providers look for ways to keep patients out of the hospital or from returning after being discharged. As healthcare costs squeeze patient wallets and company bottom lines, insurers have focused on the savings to be reaped by caring for patients at home. And by removing some benefit restrictions, Medicare is making it easier for those health plans to do so.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): More
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Clippings, Industry News, and Long-Term Care.
2019 Copay/Deductibles
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced the 2019 Medicare Premiums and Copay/Deductibles. Medicare Part B Premium There is no change in the Part B monthly premium amounts for 2018. The Medicare Part B standard monthly premium will be $135.50 in 2019, compared to $134 in 2018.. Note: The income-related Part B premiums for 2019 will vary depending on the extent to which an individual beneficiary’s income exceeds $85,000 (or a married couple’s income exceeds $170,000). 2019 Income Level-File Individual 2019 Income Level-File Joint 2019 Part B Premium Less than or equal to $85,000 Less than
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EssentialLTC’s 2018 Tax Summary
We’re excited to release the 2018 Tax Summary that highlights the LTCi tax advantages for: Premiums paid by individuals Premiums paid by businesses 1035 exchanges Benefits for LTCi expenses Return of Premium / Surrender Benefits Use this easy easy-to-follow tax guide to begin the tax related part of the LTC planning conversation. You’ll also have a list of applicable IRC codes to provide your clients’ tax advisors. Make the most of the 4th quarter of 2018 and think of business owners looking for another tax deduction for before the end of the year. Contact our Sales Support team at 888-505-2332
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There’s something different about our LTCi underwriting
Big-Picture Underwriting What makes Mutual of Omaha’s LTCi underwriting different? Instead of looking for reasons to deny an applicant, we actually search for ways to issue your business. Our underwriters believe your clients are more than a list of diagnoses. So, they look at everything, including the person’s health, cognitive status and lifestyle. That means even if your client has a chronic health condition but is physically and socially active and working with a physician to control the health issue, they may still qualify for coverage. It all starts with you. Here’s what you can do to help ensure your
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Advantage Plus Upgrade Now Available in Kentucky and Texas!
GTL’s Advantage Plus Hospital Indemnity Insurance upgrade is now available in Kentucky and Texas! Available on paper only — e-App coming soon! Missed our Pre-AEP webinar which also highlighted these great new additions? Watch the recording now! New Base Plan Options Up to $750 per day hospitalization benefit. Ambulance Rider Upgrade Choice from $50 – $400 daily usage benefit, up to 4 times per year, lifetime max of 12 trips, air ambulance coverage included, and no hospital confinement required. Skilled Nursing Rider Addition* Choice of two coverage options of $100, $150, $200 per day for day 1-50 -OR- $120 per
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Growing together: A message from Tracey Edgar
Growing Together TRACEY EDGAR, ONEAMERICA® CARE SOLUTIONS DISTRIBUTION LEADER As we near the end of 2018, we at OneAmerica have a lot to be grateful for. Your business and continued collaboration have made this a banner year, and we’re proud to call each of you our customer. Together, we’ve given a record number of Americans access to long-term care protection – and the knowledge that, no matter what the future holds, we’ll be there when they need us most. Sustaining this shared success means we must stay committed to excellence and improvement, both for you and for our policyholders.
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Mutual Part D Available in Florida
From the Desk of Amber Rinehart We are pleased to announce that Mutual of Omaha has received all necessary licenses and approvals and will offer its Medicare Prescription Drug Plans in the state of Florida, effective immediately. An administrative issue with our license to sell Part D in Florida, and the fact that Hurricane Michael delayed the resolution of the issue with the Florida Department of Insurance, forced us to halt marketing and sales of our Prescription Drug Plans in the state. We worked closely with the Florida Department of Insurance and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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