Changes are coming to Medicare, but that’s nothing new. Slight changes are made to Medicare every year to make it work better for enrollees and this year is no different. Have you kept up with all the latest Medicare changes? If not, don’t worry—we’ll fill you in.
Medicare premium amounts
Original Medicare is comprised of two parts: Part A and Part B. Part A, which mainly covers hospital care, is usually available with no monthly premium as long as you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes while working for at least 10 years.
Part B, which mainly covers doctor visits and tests, has a monthly premium based on income. Most Medicare beneficiaries pay the standard Part B premium. A small percentage of Part B enrollees have a higher income that requires them to pay a higher Part B premium.
Premium amounts can change each year, but Medicare.gov will show you the most up-to-date premium costs.
Plan ratings
How well a health plan takes care of its members should be an important part of your Medicare decision-making process. Fortunately, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) offers an easy way to gauge a plan’s quality: star ratings.
Star ratings measure things like how well a plan helps their members stay healthy and manage chronic conditions. It takes into account member experiences with the plan, from overall satisfaction to customer service. Prescription coverage is also included in the star rating, if a plan offers it. Plans are evaluated each year and given a rating of one to five stars.
For plan year 2024, Priority Health’s HMO-POS and PPO plans earned 4.5 stars.
Medicare Advantage plan offerings
Medicare Advantage plans take the place of Original Medicare—or Part A and Part B. They’re offered by private insurance companies and cover everything Original Medicare does, plus offer additional benefits.
One of the biggest changes to Medicare has been the increase in people choosing Medicare Advantage plans. In 2024, 54 percent of Medicare beneficiaries throughout the U.S. chose a Medicare Advantage plan. In Michigan, that number jumps to 61 percent.
One reason for the increase in Medicare Advantage plans is that Original Medicare doesn’t cover all medical expenses, and some individuals want or need more coverage.
Medicare Advantage plans can include:
- Vision, dental and hearing coverage options
- Prescription drug coverage
- Preventive care
- Care management services
- Resources and support for mental and behavioral health
- Gym memberships or other ways stay active and fit
Another reason is because people have come to expect the service they get from a private insurance company. In fact, Priority Health’s customer service team was named to Newsweek’s America’s Best Customer Service 2024 list.*
Still have questions about Medicare? Visit Priority Health’s Medicare Learning Center or call one of our Medicare experts at 888.389.6648 (TTY 711) 8 a.m.-8 p.m., seven days a week.
* Based on an independent survey of U.S. customers who have either made purchases, used services, or gathered information about products or services in the past three years.
