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Do you have to pay the $1100 again if its been more than sixty days since the last time you were in the hospital? I thought it was an annual deductible and you paid it once for the whole year. But medicare says you have to pay it if its been longer than sixty days since your last hospital stay. Is that true?
from the website: http://questions.medicare.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/2260/kw/deductibles
Medicare Deductible and Coinsurance Amounts for 2010:
Part A: (pays for inpatient hospital, skilled nursing facility, and some home health care) For each benefit period Medicare pays all covered costs except the Medicare Part A deductible (2010 = $1,100) during the first 60 days and coinsurance amounts for hospital stays that last beyond 60 days and no more than 150 days.
For each benefit period you pay:
•A total of $1,100 for a hospital stay of 1-60 days.
•$275 per day for days 61-90 of a hospital stay.
•$550 per day for days 91-150 of a hospital stay (Lifetime Reserve Days).
•All costs for each day beyond 150 days
This was all I saw that mentioned a 60 day thing. I get that up to 60 days per benefit year... not every 60 days.
but you can go to that site and maybe contact someone to understand better.
I talked to medicare and she said you don't have to pay the $1100 again if you go in the hospital within sixty days of the last time you were in the hospital. But you do have to pay it again for your next hospital stay if its been over sixty days from the time you were in the hospital last. I thought it was $1100 once a year but she said no.
Yes, if you've gone 60 days without being in the hospital, the next time you go in starts a new benefit period. If you go back in after being out for only 4 weeks, it still counts as the same benefit period.
Have you looked into the medicare advantage plans? They can really help to keep your costs down. Most of them have you pay a co-pay for the first 5-7 days ($50-$150 per day), even if you stay all 7 days at the highest co-pay you save some $$.
After researching this stuff with my Mom about Medicare I would also suggest you check into some of the advantage plans. If you are a member of AARP their plans are really good. I must admit I needed Medicare for the migraine I got reading about this stuff, it is as clear as MUD. I swear they do not want you to figure any of this stuff out - EVER.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SLance68
One doesn't have to be an AARP member to have an AARP advantage plan, at least not where I live. I was very surprised about that! (One does have to be an AARP member to have one of their supplements.)
You'll get it all figured out, probably lots faster than I did...LOL