MEDICARE
Most people become eligible for Medicare when turning 65. If you are already taking Social Security benefits when you turn 65, then you will most likely get a Medicare card 3 months prior to the month of your 65th birthday, automatically. Your Medicare benefits start the 1st of the month of your 65th birthday. If you are not taking Social Security benefits when you turn 65, then you will need to request the activation of your Medicare benefits. People have strongly suggested it following diagnosis of health problems –
How much does Part A cost?
Premium-free Part A
You usually don’t pay a monthly premium for Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) coverage if you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes for a certain amount of time while working. This is sometimes called “premium-free Part A.”
Most people get premium-free Part A.
You can get premium-free Part A at 65 if:
- You already get retirement benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.
- You’re eligible to get Social Security or Railroad benefits but haven’t filed for them yet.
- You or your spouse had Medicare-covered government employment.
If you’re under 65, you can get premium-free Part A if:
- You got Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits for 24 months.
- You have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) and meet certain requirements.
Part A premiums
If you buy Part A, you’ll pay up to $458 each month in 2020. If you paid Medicare taxes for less than 30 quarters, the standard Part A premium is $458. If you paid Medicare taxes for 30-39 quarters, the standard Part A premium is $240.
In most cases, if you choose to buy Part A, you must also:
- Have Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance)
- Pay monthly premiums for both Part A and Part B
Contact Social Security for more information about the Part A premium.
Some people automatically get Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance). Learn how and when you can sign up for Part A.
How much does Part B cost?
Part B premiums
You pay a premium each month for Part B. Your Part B premium will be automatically deducted from your benefit payment if you get benefits from one of these:
- Social Security
- Railroad Retirement Board
- Office of Personnel Management
If you don’t get these benefit payments, you’ll get a bill.
Most people will pay the standard premium amount. If your modified adjusted gross income is above a certain amount, you may pay an Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA). Medicare uses the modified adjusted gross income reported on your IRS tax return from 2 years ago. This is the most recent tax return information provided to Security by the IRS.
2020
The standard Part B premium amount in 2020 will be $144.60 (or higher depending on your income). However, some people who get Social Security benefits pay less than this amount ($130 on average). You’ll pay the standard premium amount (or higher) if:
- You enroll in Part B for the first time in 2018.
- You don’t get Social Security benefits.
- You’re directly billed for your Part B premiums (meaning they aren’t taken out of your Social Security benefits).
- You have Medicare and Medicaid, and Medicaid pays your premiums. (Your state will pay the standard premium amount of $144.60.)
- Your modified adjusted gross income as reported on your IRS tax return from 2 years ago is above a certain amount. If so, you’ll pay the standard premium amount and an Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA). IRMAA is an extra charge added to your premium.
If you’re in 1 of these 5 groups, here’s what you’ll pay:
| If your yearly income in 2017 (for what you pay in 2019) was | You pay each month (in 2019) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| File individual tax return | File joint tax return | File married & separate tax return | |
| $85,000 or less | $170,000 or less | $85,000 or less | $144.60 |
| above $85,000 up to $107,000 | above $170,000 up to $214,000 | Not applicable | $202.40 |
| above $107,000 up to $133,500 | above $214,000 up to $267,000 | Not applicable | $289.20 |
| above $133,500 up to $160,000 | above $267,000 up to $320,000 | Not applicable | $376.20 |
| above $160,000 and less than $500,000 | above $320,000 and less than $750,000 | above $85,000 and less than $415,000 | $462.70 |
| $500,000 or above | $750,000 and above | $415,000 and above | $491.60 |
Get more information about your Part B premium from Social Security [PDF, 341 KB].
Part B deductible & coinsurance
You pay $198 per year for your Part B deductible. After your deductible is met, you typically pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for these:
- Most doctor services (including most doctor services while you’re a hospital inpatient)
- Outpatient therapy
- Durable medical equipment
There are many, many moving parts and situations. So, you may not fall into a standard turning-65 start date. You may have Medicare due to disability, you may have worked past 65 years old, or one of hundreds of other exception