As Patient Access Reps we are required to keep up-to-date on all the changes and updates happening with various insurance plans that we deal with everyday. That includes doctor’s office personnel and hospital accounts receivable or financial accounting members. The easiest way is to have each of the major insurance websites bookmarked so that you can find the information for the coming year at your fingertips. Medicare has posted the changes for 2012 here: http://www.medicare.gov/cost/

Traditional Medicare Patient Costs beginning January 2012:
Part B Deductible (Doctor’s Office and Outpatient Hospital services)
Pay $140 per year and then 20% for most services

Hospital Inpatient Stay You pay:
$1,156 deductible per benefit period
$0 for the first 60 days of each benefit period
$289 per day for days 61-90 of each benefit period
$578 per “lifetime reserve day” after day 90 of each benefit period
(up to a maximum of 60 days over your lifetime)

Medicare Advantage Plans Example of Patient Costs:

Tricare Patient Costs Beginning October 1, 2011 to September 30, 2012:
(Go to the Tricare Website to Get the Complete Information)

These are just two of the most seen insurances in our area but they are good examples of what you will encounter with the rest of them. You will need to make a listing of your most popular insurances that your company encounters with their copays as the patients come after the first of the year. Good Luck and Happy Holidays in the coming months.

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