Medicare consists of several different parts, including Part B.Medicare Part Bis medical insurance andcoversmedically necessary outpatient care and somepreventative care. Together withMedicare Part A(hospital insurance), it makes up what’s calledoriginal Medicare.
If you’re enrolled in Part B, you’ll pay a monthly premium as well as other costs like deductibles and coinsurance. Continue reading to take a deeper dive into Part B, its costs, and more.
If you have Part B, you’ll need to pay a monthly premium. The standard monthly premium for 2022 is$170.10.
However, the amount of this premium can increase based on your income. People with a higher income typically pay what’s known as anincome-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA). For 2022, your income amount is calculated from your 2020 tax return.
A deductible is the amount that you have to pay out-of-pocket before Part B starts covering your outpatient services. For 2022, the Part B deductible is$233.
Coinsurance is the percentage that you pay after you’ve met your deductible. For most services covered by Part B, you’ll pay20 percentof the cost.
The following individuals can enroll in original Medicare (parts A and B):
- people age 65 and older
- individuals with a qualifyingdisability
- those who haveend stage renal disease (ESRD)oramyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Eligibility for Part Bdepends on whether or not you’re eligible forpremium-free Part A. Most people get premium-free Part A because they’ve paid Medicare taxes while working.
Enrolling in Medicare Part B
Some people are automatically enrolled in Part A and Part B. These people include:
- those who are going to turn 65 and are already receiving Social Security or RRB retirement benefits
- people who have a disability and have been receiving disability benefits from Social Security or the RRB for 24 months
Some people will have to sign up with the SSA to enroll in parts A and B. These people include those not already collecting Social Security or RRB retirement benefits at age 65 or those with ESRD or ALS.
For people who are automatically enrolled, Part B coverage isvoluntary. That means that you can choose not to have it. Some people may wish todelay enrollmentin Part B because they already have health coverage. Whether or not you choose to delay enrolling in Part B can depend on the specific health insurance plan that you have.
If you don’t sign up for Part B when you’re first eligible, you may be required to pay alate enrollment penaltywhen you do choose to enroll. Additionally, you’ll need to wait until the general enrollment period (January 1 through March 31 each year).
With the late enrollment penalty, your monthly premium may go up10 percent标准的premium for each 12-month period that you were eligible but didn’t enroll. You’ll continue to pay this penalty for as long as you’re enrolled in Part B.
For example, let’s say that you waited 2 years to enroll in Part B. In this case, you’d pay your monthly premium plus 20 percent of the standard premium.
Medicare Part B is the medical insurance part of original Medicare. It covers medically necessary outpatient services as well as some types of preventative care.
You’ll have to pay a monthly premium for Part B. Other potential costs include deductibles, coinsurance, and copays. You may also need to pay out-of-pocket for services that aren’t covered under Part B, likedental careandeye exams.
If you already collect Social Security benefits when you turn age 65, you’ll be enrolled in original Medicare automatically. Part B is voluntary. Some will need to sign up for original Medicare, so be sure to pay attention toimportant enrollment dates.