House bill 3200 does not stipulate “death panels” as some people have asserted. But the bill does have a number of sections that would affect Medicare Advantage plans in 2011.
Here are some examples of changes that would be legislated for 2011:
Changes the annual election period to November 1 through December 15 to provide the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and plans additional time to process enrollment applications beginning in 2011. The Annual election period has been November 15 to December 31.
Eliminates the Open Enrollment Period during which Medicare Advantage enrollees are permitted to change their plan one time during the first three months of the year. This means Medicare Advantage enrollees will have only one time each year to change plans or disenroll and go back to Original Medicare. That period will be November 1 – December 15.
Prohibits plans from imposing cost-sharing requirements that exceed those under FFS Medicare. This may mean that Medicare Advantage plan hospital co-payments could not exceed the Part A hospital deductible ($1,068 in 2009). Or it could limit co-payments for Part B services and drugs to 20%, as under Medicare. Some Medicare Advantage plans in 2009 have hospital co-payments of $275 per day for days 1 through 15, potentially resulting in a $4,000 charge to the patient. Some Medicare Advantage plans have a 30% co-pay for durable medical equipment (wheelchairs, oxygen) while the Medicare co-insurance is 20%.