Patient advocates are expressing new concerns that the language in the health reform bill will hit Medigap plans with higher cost-sharing requirements and would likely lead to increased copays starting in 2015 for the two most popular types of Medigap plans, Plans C and F.
Some health care experts worry the provisions, targeted for their savings and the hope that extra out-of-pocket costs will reduce unnecessary medical services, would unfairly hurt patients newly enrolling in the program.
Currently, Medigap policies pay the full 20 percent of cost-sharing for physician care and other outpatient Part B services, but the new law indicates that patients have to pay some of the cost sharing in order to reduce unnecessary medical care. Since there is no cap on the Medicare Part B copayment, many seniors prefer Medigap plans C and F as they cover all of those costs. Such coverage is critical for chronically ill patients and cancer patients.
Clearly, this will be one several key issues that impact patient copayment exposure and related access to care.
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Medigap has some modifications in plans so that the patients can feel better to buy any policy.
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