Allsup Finds Healthcare Costs Consuming Larger Part of Fixe...(as determined by the Social Security Adm...),Health

This is only part of the story for people with disabilities and mounting medical expenses that rely on traditional Medicare Part B. Medicare plans typically also require an individual to pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount out of their own pocket.

Supporting Allsup's conclusions is a poll released in October by the Kaiser Family Foundation, which discovered that 36 percent of households report postponing needed health care.

"It is apparent people are struggling and there's no easy solution, especially when you are relying on a fixed and limited income," said Paul Gada, personal financial planning director and product manager for Allsup Medicare AdvisorSM service, which helps people with disabilities choose the best, most affordable Medicare plan to meet their specific needs. "But people can take more control by better understanding the costs and coverage of their Medicare options."

Below, Allsup provides a summary of the Medicare cost changes for 2009:

Part A

·         Monthly Premium - Increase: Premium rises 4.7 percent to $443 from $423 for certain individuals with disabilities that have less than 30 quarters of Medicare-covered employment; and 4.7 percent to $244 for those with 30-39 quarters of coverage. Most other Medicare beneficiaries do not have a Part A premium because they have at least 40 quarters of Medicare-covered
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