California Ending Payment of Some Medicare Part B Premiums
Beginning on Nov. 1, California no longer will pay Medicare Part B premiums for about 57,000 Medicare beneficiaries who are dually eligible for Medi-Cal, the Modesto Bee reports. Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program.
The policy will apply only to dual eligibles with a Medi-Cal share of cost that exceeds $500.
Under the new policy, the $96.40 monthly premium for Medicare Part B will be deducted from beneficiaries' Social Security checks. The Department of Health Care Services mailed letters to the affected beneficiaries on Monday.
The move was approved as part of the state's efforts to address the budget deficit.
DHCS spokesperson Norman Williams said that only one other state in the nation covers the cost of Medicare Part B premiums for dual eligibles. He said the state does not receive federal matching funds for such spending (Carlson, Modesto Bee, 10/28).
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