Jan 17, 2008 4:15 PM
As the New York Teacher went to press, the city announced changes in premiums for Medicare-eligible retirees who receive prescription drug coverage from their health plans. In recent negotiations with the city, the Municipal Labor Committee was able to reduce the originally proposed increases by GHI and some of the other health plans.
The changes are effective as of Jan. 1 and will be reflected in January pension checks.
In addition, as the result of plan-design changes, Aetna’s non-Medicare rate is being reduced, also effective Jan. 1.
Here are the new monthly premiums per Medicare person:
Aetna Golden Medicare 10, with prescription drugs, increased from $131.10 to $170.75.
Empire Mediblue, with prescription drugs, increased from $69 to $85.
Empire Medicare-related coverage, with prescription drugs, increased from $169.88 to $185.51.
GHI/EBCBS Senior Care, increased from $89.18 to $93.09.
GHI HMO Medicare Senior Supplement, with prescription drugs, increased from $74.54 to $126.18.
Healthnet Medprime, with prescription drugs, decreased from $303.48 to $264.80.
Healthnet Smartchoice, with prescription drugs, increased from $60 to $87.
HIP VIP Premier, with prescription drugs, increased from $85.34 to $99.90.
United SecureHorizons/Oxford, with prescription drugs, decreased from $86.33 to $77.82.
Two Aetna plans for non-Medicare retirees decreased their monthly rates:
Aetna HMO, the basic plan for individuals, decreased from $71.16 to $58.39 and for families from $311.45 to $276.31. The monthly cost including optional riders for prescription drugs decreased for individuals, from $176.06 to $149.16 and for families from $557.25 to $488.86.
Aetna QPOS, the basic plan for individuals, decreased from $531.46 to $491 and for families from $1,301.05 to $1,201.98. The monthly cost including optional riders for prescription drugs decreased for individuals from $678.36 to $620.39 and for families from $1,659.55 to $1,518.54.
There is no monthly premium for the following health plans: AvMed Medicare Plan (only in Florida), BlueCross BlueShield Health Options (only in Florida).