America's Benefit Specialist November 2022

MEDICARE MATTERS

site under Medicare Marketing Rules & Resources: https://nahu.org/membership-re sources/publications/webinars. You can also view all NAHU letters to CMS, the Agent Alliance letter and the letter from Senator Susan Collins to CMS at https://nahu.org/membership-resourc es/medicare-portal/medicare-market ing-rule-resources.

“We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.” On September 22, NAHU’s Marcy Buckner and Mike Smith held a webinar to bring members up to speed on the new requirements. You can catch the replay in the Medicare portal of the NAHU member

meeting with two senators to craft a bill to re move agents from the TPMO definition and we expect to have a bill in the near future. How the Rule Applies: The new call-re cording requirement applies to all agents who enroll beneficiaries into new plans, whether they are current or new clients for either Part C or Part D. Agents must also post a new disclaimer on their website and read that disclaimer within 60 seconds of any marketing call. The disclaimer states:

1 https://nahu.quorum.us/action_center/

CMS RELEASES 2023 PARTS A&B PREMIUMS AND DEDUCTIBLES AND PART D INCOME-RELATED MONTHLY ADJUSTMENT AMOUNTS

Beginning in 2023, certain Medicare enrollees who are 36 months post-kidney transplant, therefore no longer eligible for full Medicare coverage, can elect to continue Part B coverage of immunosuppressive drugs by paying a premium. For 2023, the immu nosuppressive drug premium is $97.10. Part B Income-Related Monthly Adjust ment Amounts: Since 2007, a beneficiary’s Part B monthly premium is based on his or her income. These income-related monthly adjustment amounts affect roughly seven percent of people with Medicare Part B. The 2023 Part B total premiums for high-income beneficiaries with full Part B coverage can be seen at www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact sheets/2023-medicare-parts-b-premiums and-deductibles-2023-medicare-part-d- income-related-monthly, along with:

• 2023 Part B total premiums for high-in come beneficiaries with immunosuppres sive drug only Part B coverage • premiums for high-income beneficia ries with full Part B coverage who are married and lived with their spouse at any time during the taxable year but file a separate return • premiums for high-income beneficiaries with immunosuppressive drug only Part B coverage who are married and lived with their spouse at any time during the taxable year but file a separate return Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospital, skilled nursing facility, hospice, inpatient rehabilitation, and some home healthcare services. About 99% of Medicare benefi ciaries do not have a Part A premium since

On September 27, CMS released the 2023 premiums, deductibles and coinsurance amounts for the Medicare Part A and Part B programs, and the 2023 Medicare Part D in come-related monthly adjustment amounts. Each year the Medicare Part B premi um, deductible and coinsurance rates are determined according to the Social Security Act. The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B enrollees will be $164.90 for 2023, a decrease of $5.20 from $170.10 in 2022. The annual deductible for all Medi care Part B beneficiaries is $226 in 2023, a decrease of seven dollars from the annual deductible of $233 in 2022. The 2022 premium included a con tingency margin to cover projected Part B spending for a new drug, Aduhelm. Lower-than-projected spending on both Aduhelm and other Part B items and services resulted in much larger reserves in the Part B account of the Supplementary Medical Insurance (SMI) Trust Fund, which can be used to limit future Part B premium increases. The decrease in the 2023 Part B premium aligns with the CMS recommen dation in a May 2022 report that excess SMI reserves be passed along to people with Medicare Part B coverage.

THE STANDARD MONTHLY PREMIUM FOR MEDICARE PART B ENROLLEES WILL BE $164.90 FOR 2023, A DECREASE OF $5.20 FROM $170.10 IN 2022.

30 ABS | benefitspecialistmagazine.com