Medicare Costs May Rise in Alabama

MONTGOMERY - Some 15,500 low-income Alabamians on Medicare could soon be forced to shell out extra money each month.
   
Those who use a program that helps low-income Medicare beneficiaries pay the premium for Medicare Part B could soon have to pay an extra $96 a month. Medicare Part B covers such medical expenses as doctor visits and some prescription drugs.
   
States were notified last week that the federal government is no longer picking up the tab for poor people enrolled in a Medicare savings program.
   
Alabama Medicaid spokeswoman Robin Rawls said the state can’t afford to pay the cost for the program. Alabama will receive $11.7 million to pay the premiums, nearly $10 million less than the state requested.