Medicare premiums going up for some in Stanislaus County

Monthly premiums are rising for some Medicare Advantage plans in Stanislaus County, effective Jan. 1. Other folks will save a few dollars paying for their Medicare health plans next year.

Kaiser Permanente will charge $80 a month for its Senior Advantage enhanced plan, up from $74 this year. Kaiser’s Senior Advantage basic plan will cost $20, double the monthly rate in 2016.

Seniors who have paid no monthly premium for Golden State Medicare Health Plan and Alignment Health My Choice will dig into their pockets in 2017. Golden State will cost $4.40 a month and My Choice will cost $19 a month.

A representative for Alignment Health said My Choice subscribers will have zero copayments at the pharmacy for blood pressure and cholesterol drugs if they order a 100-day supply.

Medicare health plans with zero premiums are still available from Alignment and other insurers in the county.

About 250 people attended a forum Thursday at the Modesto Senior Center to learn about the cost and benefit changes for 2017, and ask questions about their Medicare coverage. Seven insurers offer a variety of Medicare Advantage plans to county residents eligible for Medicare. Those plans provide benefits on top of basic Medicare for physician visits, hospitalization, outpatient hospital services, tests and X-rays, and prescription drugs.

The plans also have coverage for Medicare recipients who need emergency or urgent care services while traveling in another country.

AARP Secure Horizons will lower its premium to $96 a month, which is $3 less than this year. Also reducing their premiums are Health Net Healthy Heart, from $163 to $157, and Humana Gold Plus, from $75 to $73.

The monthly rates are in addition to the $121.80 premium charged by the federal government for Medicare Part B benefits.

Care1st Advantage Optimum previously announced it will discontinue its plan next year in Stanislaus County, forcing more than 1,800 people to look for another option. Care1st will offer a plan for county residents who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medi-Cal.

Anthem Blue Cross is rolling out a special-needs plan with benefits for people with end-stage kidney disease.

County residents who need help navigating Medicare can receive free counseling from the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program in Modesto, at 121 Downey Ave., Suite 101. Call 209-558-4540.

This story was originally published October 30, 2016 at 4:16 PM with the headline "Medicare premiums going up for some in Stanislaus County."