Rates

The 2012 premium rate for the WELS VEBA Anthem Medicare Preferred PPO plan will increase to $272 per month. Additional information regarding the 2012 Medicare plan will be sent to all enrolled members this fall.

The 2011 premium rate for the WELS VEBA Anthem Smart Value Medicare plan will increase to $220 per month. In addition, the deductible will increase to $1000 per person (up from the $750/person deductible in 2010). The main reason for the increase in these amounts is the freeze on the Medicare reimbursement schedule to providers and insurers. For this reason, it is likely that Medicare plan premiums will increase across the U.S. for both individual/commercial insurance companies and group plans such as WELS VEBA.