Q: I just downloaded a sample ballot for this month’s election and noticed that Republicans are always listed first, regardless of incumbency status. Who prepares the ballots and why is this potential bias allowed?
— Denise Russell, Roswell
A: Georgia Code 21-2-285(c) states that the "columns of political parties shall be printed on the ballot, beginning on the left side thereof, and shall be arranged from left to right in the descending order of the totals of votes cast for candidates of the political parties for Governor at the last gubernatorial election." Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal is a Republican. The law was passed in 1986, Jared Thomas, a spokesman for Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp, told Q&A on the News in an email.
Q: I hear the Medicare premium will increase on Jan. 1. What will the new premium be?
— Ardon Smith, Fayetteville
A: Average monthly premiums for Medicare Advantage will increase to $32.59 next year, a rise of $1.47, and the premiums of lower-priced Medicare plans will increase 57 cents a month in 2013, The Associated Press reported. Deputy Medicare Administrator Jonathan Blum recently said, "Beneficiaries should expect the overall quality of care" to improve and that "cost growth remains controlled." Nearly 1.5 million more seniors are expected to join Medicare Advantage plans next year, boosting enrollment to 14.5 million, the AP reported. Medicare Advantage is a private insurance option that's a part of Medicare. The story also warned: "The estimates are averages, so they don't reflect individual experiences. Some beneficiaries will see their premiums and cost sharing go up; others will see a decrease." Medicare reported earlier this year that prescription drug premiums would remain stable for the third year in a row, about $30 a month.
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