28 THE QUEENS COURIER • HEALTH • DECEMBER 17, 2020 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
health
Richards says health care will be his ‘highest priority’
BY ANGÉLICA ACEVEDO
aacevedo@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
Newly sworn-in Queens Borough
President Donovan Richards hit the ground
running with a tour of the borough’s hospitals,
Elder Law Minute TM
Medicare Premiums: 2021 Update
BY RONALD A. FATOULLAH, ESQ.
AND EVA SCHWECHTER, ESQ.
Medicare premiums are set to rise
a modest amount in 2021. Th e basic
monthly premium will increase from
$144.60 a month to $148.50, for a total
increase of $3.90. Although the increase
is minimal, the Medicare premiums will
still cut into any Social Security gains.
Th e Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS) announced the premium
and other Medicare cost increases on
November 6, 2020. Th e hike could have
been much worse due to rising costs during
the coronavirus pandemic, but the
bipartisan budget bill passed in October
capped the increase. While the majority
of benefi ciaries will pay the added
amount, a “hold harmless” rule prevents
Medicare recipients’ premiums from
increasing more than Social Security
benefi ts, which are going up only 1.3 percent
in 2021. Th is “hold harmless” provision
does not apply to Medicare benefi -
ciaries who are enrolled in Medicare but
who are not yet receiving Social Security,
new Medicare benefi ciaries, seniors earning
more than $88,000 a year, and “dual
eligibles” who get both Medicare and
Medicaid benefi ts.
Meanwhile, the Part B deductible will
rise from $198 to $203 in 2021, while the
Part A deductible will rise from $1,408
ELDER LAW
to $1,484. For hospitalizations, copayments
for a hospital stay from days 61-90
will increase from $352 to $371 per day,
and copayments for days 91 and beyond
will increase from $704 to $742 per day.
For benefi ciaries receiving skilled care in
a nursing home, Medicare’s coinsurance
for days 21-61 will increase from $176
to $185.50. “Medigap” policies can cover
some of these costs. Medicare coverage
will still end aft er day 100.
Premiums for higher-income benefi -
ciaries ($88,000 and above) are as follows:
Individuals with annual incomes
between $88,000 and $111,000 and
married couples with annual incomes
between $176,000 and $222,000 will pay
a monthly premium of $207.90.
Individuals with annual incomes
between $111,000 and $138,000 and
married couples with annual incomes
between $222,000 and $276,000 will pay
a monthly premium of $297.
Individuals with annual incomes
between $138,000 and $165,000 and
married couples with annual incomes
between $276,000 and $330,000 will pay
a monthly premium of $386.10.
Individuals with annual incomes above
$165,000 and less than $500,000 and
married couples with annual incomes
above $330,000 and less than $750,000
will pay a monthly premium of $475.20.
Individuals with annual incomes above
$500,000 and married couples with
annual incomes above $750,000 will pay
a monthly premium of $504.90.
Rates diff er for benefi ciaries who are
married but fi le a separate tax return
from their spouse. Th ose with incomes
greater than $88,000 and less than
$412,000 will pay a monthly premium
of $475.20. Th ose with incomes greater
than $412,000 will pay a monthly premium
of $504.90. Th e Social Security
Administration uses the income reported
two years ago to determine a Part
B benefi ciary’s premium. Th is means
that the income reported on a benefi -
ciary’s 2019 tax return is used to determine
whether the benefi ciary must pay
a higher monthly Part B premium in
2021. Income is calculated by taking a
benefi ciary’s adjusted gross income and
adding back in some normally excluded
income, such as tax-exempt interest,
U.S. savings bond interest used to pay
tuition, and certain income from foreign
sources. Th is is called modifi ed adjusted
gross income (MAGI). If a benefi -
ciary’s MAGI decreased signifi cantly in
the past two years, she may request that
information from more recent years be
used to calculate the premium. Requests
to reverse a surcharge are also allowed if
one’s income changes.
Those who enroll in Medicare
Advantage plans may have diff erent
cost-sharing arrangements. CMS estimates
that the Medicare Advantage average
monthly premium will decrease by
11 percent in 2021, from an average of
$23.63 in 2020 to $21 in 2021.
Ronald A. Fatoullah, Esq. is the founder
of Ronald Fatoullah & Associates, a law
fi rm that concentrates in elder law, estate
planning, Medicaid planning, guardianships,
estate administration, trusts, wills,
and real estate. Eva Schwechter is an elder
law attorney with the fi rm. Th e law fi rm
can be reached at 718-261-1700, 516-
466-4422, or toll free at 1-877-ELDERLAW
or 1-877-ESTATES. Mr. Fatoullah
is also a partner advisor with Advice
Period, a wealth management fi rm that
provides a continuum of fi nancial and
investment advice for individuals and
businesses, and he can be reached at
424-256-7273. Th is is not intended to
be individual legal advice which can
only be provided if you retain our fi rm.
If you need legal advice please contact
our offi ces to schedule a consultation at
1-877-ELDERLAW (1-877-353-3752).
RONALD FATOULLAH
ESQ, CELA*
making Elmhurst Hospital his third
stop on Dec. 10.
Th e former southeast Queens councilman
has visited three hospitals in the
past 24 hours, including Queens Hospital
Center and St. John’s Episcopal Hospital,
to get a better sense of where the borough’s
needs are amid a recent uptick of COVID-
19 cases.
“I think there were a lot of lessons from
March and April, at the height of the pandemic,
and they’re much better prepared,”
Richards told QNS. “Th ey’re not at capacity,
but preparation means being ready, so
the best way to ensure that a plan is successful
is to be ahead of the game. All of our
institutions thus far are ahead of the game
— but still worried about seeing that surge.
No one wants to be back where they were in
March or April.”
On Th ursday, Richards was welcomed
by interim CEO of Elmhurst Hospital Eric
Wei as well as several doctors and administrators
of what became “the epicenter of the
epicenter” of the pandemic back in March
and April.
While addressing the small group of
health care professionals, Richards thanked
them for their ongoing bravery and sacrifi
ces. He remembered Priscilla Carrow, a
coordinating manager at Elmhurst Hospital
and well-known community member who
passed away in March due to COVID-19.
“Someone who we lost in this pandemic,
someone who gave it all, who did so
much for me in my personal life. Who kept
this hospital running, who kept people fed.
Who looked out for people, even during
their most vulnerable moments. We lost
her, we remember her, we love you and we
miss you,” said Richards. “But we know you
would want us to carry on the work that
you started. And that’s why I’m here today.”
Richards said his administration’s top priority
will be investing in health care.
Queens has only nine hospitals, and the
fewest hospital beds per capita when compared
to the other four boroughs, with 1.66
beds per 1,000 people, according to a report
by the Queens borough president’s offi ce.
“Th ere’s ample opportunity as this borough
grows, as we look at land use, there
should certainly be a strategic plan in place
by the city to make sure there’s community
facilities space that health care is prioritized
in those spaces,” said Richards. “With a
multi-pronged strategy we actually can see
health care, and more quality health care in
the borough.”
As the borough’s infection rate rises,
Richards said it’s important for community
members to wear masks, social distance
and stop gatherings.
“We owe it to them to not just clap
for our health care workers, but to also be
responsible to remember that these are
folks who have to go home to their loved
ones and want to go home to their loved
ones, and they deserve our respect and
greatest debt of gratitude for all they have
done,” said Richards.
Richards added that he is calling on Gov.
Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio
to prioritize Queens when it comes to vaccine
distribution.
“I’m urging the public to get vaccinated.
I am not gonna lead from the rear; I’m
gonna lead from the front on this one,” said
Richards. “I know that there’s a lot of concern
and a lot of fear around what that vaccine
will do to you, but it is critical for us to
get back to some semblance of normalcy
— once again, as we look at our health care
workers and we thank them — that we also
take personal responsibility and look out
not just for them, but our neighbors, our
family members, our children.”
Wei said that while the hospital is “busy,”
it’s nothing compared to the spring yet. He
said that while the number of their COVID
patients is rising, it’s doing so in a linear way
that allows them to implement their stepby
step surge plan — which is “good and
bad news for us.”
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards at
Elmhurst Hospital on Dec. 10.
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