Historical February 1991 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Medicare’s medical insurance premium, hospital insurance deductible and certain other patient costs are scheduled to increase as of January 1, 1991. Medicare’s medical insurance (Part B) premium will increase from $28.60 to $29.90 per month.
The Part B Deductible will increase from $75.00 to $100; the first increase in that deductible in several years.
The deductible is the amount of approved charges that the patient incurs each year before Medicare begins reimbursement.
The Medicare hospital insurance (Part A) deductible and coinsurance amounts will also increase.
The Part A deductible will be $628 for 1991. Patients must pay a deductible for each admission to the hospital unless it’s been less than 60 days since the last stay in the hospital.
This deductible, which was $592 in 1990, is usually a Medicare patient’s full share of costs for the first sixty days of hospitalization. Patients are responsible for co-insurance charges, starting at $157 per day in 1991, if a stay in the hospital exceeds 60 days. January 1991 will also bring Medicare coverage of mammography screenings.
The screenings, which aid in the early detection of breast cancer, will be covered by Medicare at least once every two years. Women considered at high risk for cancer will be allowed even more frequent covered screenings.
If you have Medicare it’s important that you keep your Medicare card handy. Doctors, hospitals and other health service providers need to see your Medicare card in order to be sure that you have coverage and that the Medicare number is correct. Otherwise, Medicare payments may be delayed. Don’t worry if you lose your card. Just contact Social Security to get a replacement.
Call 1-800-234-5772.
It usually takes about 4 weeks to get a new card. Remember, there’s no charge for the phone call or the replacement card.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February 1991.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1991_02.pdf, printed page(s) 6; PDF page(s) 6.
