Premiums for some Medicare enrollees will be higher than the standard because these monthly payments are based on income. Part B beneficiaries with annual incomes greater than $91,000 will pay more — how much more will depend upon income. For example, someone filing an individual tax return whose income is between $91,000 and $114,000 will pay $238.10 a month for Part B. CMS says about 7 percent of Medicare beneficiaries will have to pay more than the standard monthly premium.
Most Medicare enrollees must pay the Part B premium whether they have original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan. Some Advantage plans offer a so-called “give back” benefit where the plan covers part or all of a member’s Part B monthly premium. Consumers can find those plans on the Medicare plan finder. Deductibles in MA vary by plan.
Other Medicare charges also rising
The annual Part B deductible will rise $30 next year to $233, up from this year’s $203.
For Medicare Part A, which covers hospitalization and some nursing home and home health care services, the inpatient deductible that patients must pay for each hospital admission will increase by $72 in 2022 to $1,556, up from $1,484 this year. Almost all Medicare beneficiaries (99 percent) pay no Part A premium. Only people who have not worked long enough to pay their share of Medicare taxes are liable for Part A premiums.
Open enrollment for Medicare began Oct. 15 and continues through Dec. 7. During this period, beneficiaries can review their coverage and decide whether to make changes.
Dena Bunis covers Medicare, health care, health policy and Congress. She also writes the “Medicare Made Easy” column for the AARP Bulletin. An award-winning journalist, Bunis spent decades working for metropolitan daily newspapers, including as Washington bureau chief for the Orange County Register and as a health policy and workplace writer for Newsday.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include additional information.
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