The 2018 Elder Law Numbers have been announced by the various government agencies which administer the programs. They are as follows:
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the new Medicare premiums, deductibles, and co-payments for 2018:
- Basic Part B premium: $134.00/month (was $109.00 in 2017)
- Part B deductible: $183 (same as 2017)
- Part A deductible: $1,340 (was $1,316 in 2017)
- Co-payment for hospital stay days 61-90: $335/day (was $329 in 2017); Co-payment for hospital stay days 91-150: $670/day (was $644 in 2017)
- All costs for each day beyond 150 days
- Skilled nursing facility co-payment, days 21-100: $167.50/day (was $164.50 in 2017)
Individuals with annual incomes over $85,000 and married couples with annual incomes over $170,000 will pay a higher Medicare Part B premium, with a minimum monthly premium of $187.50.
CMS has also released the 2018 guidelines for how much spouses of institutionalized Medicaid recipients may keep.
- Maximum Community Spouse Resource Allowance: $123,600 (was $120,900 in 2017)
- Minimum Community Spouse Resource Allowance: $24,720 (was $24,280 in 2017)
- Maximum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance: $3,090.00 (was $3,022.50 in 2017)
- Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance: $2,030.00 (thru June 30, 2018)
- Medicaid Income Cap: $2,250.00 per month (was $2,205 in 2017)
- Medicaid penalty divisor: $8,944.00 (was $8,662 last year)
2018 VA “Aid and Attendance” Figures:
Single Veteran………………………………. $1,830/mo.
Married Veteran………………………………$2,169/mo.
Widowed Spouse………………………….. $1,176 /mo.