U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America
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U.S. Department of Health & Human Services |
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Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America |
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, Oct. 19, 1999 |
Contact: | HCFA Press Office (202) 690-6145 |
"The Clinton Administration's efforts to protect Medicare are ensuring this essential program will be preserved for the future, and also helping beneficiaries save money," said HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala.
The Part B premium covers physician services, hospital outpatient care, durable medical equipment and other services outside hospitals. The Part B premium will stay at the 1999 rate of $45.50. Last year, it rose by $1.70.
"This is welcome news for the millions of senior and older Americans who rely on Medicare," said Michael Hash, deputy administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration, which oversees Medicare and Medicaid.
The Medicare Part A deductible for inpatient hospital care is rising by $8, only about 1 percent, to $776. The small increase largely reflects savings from reductions in Medicare hospital payments and other program changes signed into law in the Balanced Budget Act to help protect and preserve the Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund. Last year, the deductible rose by $4.
The Part A deductible is a beneficiary's only cost for up to 60 days of inpatient care. The cost to beneficiaries for hospital stays longer than 60 days is rising by $2, to $194 per day, and by $4, to $388 per day, for stays longer than 90 days. The skilled nursing facility deductible, which must be paid after the first 20 days of such care, is rising by $1, to $97 per day.
The vast majority of Medicare beneficiaries do not pay premiums for Part A coverage. However, these premiums are actually dropping in 2000 for the 365,000 beneficiaries who do pay them. The full monthly Part A premium is dropping by $8, to $301. It is paid by seniors with less than 30 quarters of Medicare-covered employment and by disabled individuals under 65 who lost disability benefits because of work and earnings. Seniors with from 30 to 40 quarters of Medicare-covered employment are entitled to reduced premiums that are dropping by $4, to $166.
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