Wednesday, March 13, 2024

How Do You Pay Medicare

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Medicare Part A Costs In 2021

Medicare Part B Premiums | How To Pay Your Medicare Bill

Part A covers inpatient hospitalization, skilled nursing facilities, home healthcare, and hospice care. For most people, this is the closest thing to free theyll get from Medicare, because Medicare Part A generally doesn’t charge a premium.

You can buy Part A coverage if you don’t qualify for Part A. It costs $259 or $471 each month, depending on how long you paid Medicare taxes, as of 2021.

This doesnt mean that you’re not charged a deductible. For each benefit period, you pay the first $1,484 in 2021 for each benefit period. A benefit period begins when you enter the hospital. It ends when you havent received any inpatient hospital services for 60 consecutive days. Youre responsible for the first $1,484 of charges again if you re-enter the hospital the day after your benefit period ends.

Part A also charges coinsurance if your hospital stay lasts more than 60 days. You’d pay $371 per day in 2021 for days 61 through 90 of your hospital stay. You’d pay $742 per day for days 91 through the balance of your lifetime reserve days. Lifetime reserve days are the 60 days that Medicare gives you to use if you stay in the hospital for more than 90 days. You only get 60, and they dont renew.

An extended hospital stay could cost you a lot of money. It’s important to consider adding a Medicare supplement to your Original Medicare plan, or enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan if you don’t have other health coverage in addition to Medicare.

How Do I Qualify For The Part B Premium Giveback Benefit

You may qualify for a premium reduction if you:

  • Are enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B
  • Do not already receive government or other assistance for your Part B premium
  • Live in the zip code service area of a plan that offers this program
  • Enroll in an MA plan that provides a giveback benefit

This means anyone with Medicaid or other forms of assistance that pay the Part B premium cannot enroll in one of these Medicare Advantage plans.

How To Get $148 Back From Medicare

The Medicare giveback benefit, or Part B premium reduction plan, is becoming more available and popular among beneficiaries. Though not an official Medicare program, this benefit is offered by some Medicare Advantage plans and covers some or all of your Part B monthly premium .

While not all plans offer this benefit, it’s possible to find one where you’d pay a reduced premium amount up to $148. This can help maximize your savings while on Medicare, though there are a number of considerations when deciding if these plans are right for you. Read on to learn more about the giveback benefit and how you could qualify.

What is the Part B premium reduction benefit?

When you’re enrolled in Medicare Part B, you must pay a monthly premium of $148.50. The giveback benefit, or Part B premium reduction, is when the Part C Medicare Advantage plan reduces the amount you pay toward that premium. Your reduction could range from less than $1 to the full premium amount.

Even though you’re paying less for the monthly premium, you don’t technically get money back. Instead, you just pay the reduced amount and are saving the amount you’d normally pay.

If your premium comes out of your Social Security check, your payment will reflect the lower amount. If you don’t pay that way, the giveback benefit would be credited to your monthly statement. Instead of paying the full $148.50, you’d only pay the amount with the giveback benefit included.

How do I qualify for the giveback?

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What Else Do I Need To Know About Medicare Easy Pay

  • Once your Medicare Easy Pay starts, 2 things will happen each month:
  • You’ll get a monthly statement that says “THIS IS NOT A BILL” letting you know that the premium will be deducted from your bank account. Get a sample of the new statement that will start mailing in early 2022.
  • We’ll deduct your premium from your bank account on or around the 20th of the month. Your bank statement will show a payment to “CMS Medicare Premiums.”
  • If your bank rejects or returns your premium deduction, we’ll send you a letter with instructions on how to send your payment to Medicare.
  • If your premium amount changes, we’ll automatically deduct the new premium amount from your bank account.

Medicare Premiums And Surcharges Examples

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Below are three examples of how Medicare premiums and surcharges are computed. Understanding the calculations will help clients appreciate and understand the strategies to lessen the impact.

Example 1

B is single. He usually reports MAGI of about $75,000 per year. He is enrolled in a Medicare Part D plan. In 2017, when his other income included in MAGI is $77,500, he is considering withdrawing an additional $32,500 from his traditional IRA to purchase a car for cash, for a total MAGI of $110,000. How much more will B need to pay in 2019 for Medicare premiums?

If he makes the withdrawal, B will need to pay total Medicare costs of $3,633.60 in 2019, or $2,007.60 in excess of the base premium cost, if his MAGI is increased by the $32,500 . The excess premium will be incurred only for 2019, provided his MAGI in 2018 dropped back below $85,000. The excess premiums represent an increase in household expenses as a percentage of his 2017 income of 1.83% or 2.59% of his normal income level. In this case, B may want to try to keep his income below the $85,000 surcharge threshold by financing his purchase or leasing the car. He could withdraw enough from his IRA to service the debt and still stay below the threshold.

Example 2 concerns a couple who have not signed up for a Part D plan however, they must still pay Part D surcharges, since a former employer has enrolled them and is paying the basic cost as a fringe benefit.

Effect on premiums of an additional IRA withdrawal

Example 2

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How Medicare Is Funded

Medicare is funded by two trust funds that can only be used for the program. The hospital insurance trust fund is funded by payroll taxes paid by employees, employers, and the self-employed. These funds are used to pay for Medicare Part A benefits.

Medicare’s supplementary medical insurance trust fund is funded by Congress, premiums from people enrolled in Medicare, and other avenues, such as investment income from the trust fund. These funds pay for Medicare Part B benefits, Medicare Part D benefits, and program administration expenses. The standard monthly premium set by the CMS for 2021 for Medicare Part B is $148.50, although that number increases for higher-income earners. Premiums for Medicare Part D, which covers prescription drugs, will average $33 per month in 2022, up from $31.47 in 2021.

Benefit payments made by Medicare cover the following services:

  • Home healthcare
  • Physician payments
  • Hospital inpatient services
  • Medicare Advantage Plans, also known as Part C Plans, which are offered by Medicare-approved private companies
  • Other services

The CARES Act expands Medicare’s ability to cover treatment and services for those affected by COVID-19 including:

  • Providing more flexibility for Medicare to cover telehealth services

How Does Medicare Calculate My Premium

Medicare is a federal program that mandates standardization of services nationwide, so many people may assume the premiums would be the same for everyone. In reality, there are variations in the premiums people pay, if they pay any at all.

Medicare qualifications

The formula for determining a persons qualification for Social Security and Medicare is the same. It is based on income earned and taxes paid for the duration of working life. The annual W-2 Form that U.S. employees receive includes not only year-to-date earnings but also taxes paid toward Social Security and Medicare. Forty credits are required to be eligible for benefits. The requirements may be modified for young people claiming disability or survivor benefits. Four is the maximum number of credits a person can earn per year, so it takes at least 10 years or 40 quarters of employment to be eligible for Medicare. The Social Security statement available to registered users on ssa.gov reveals if you have earned enough credits to qualify for Medicare when you reach age of 65.

Medicare Part A premium

Part A and Medicare Part B premiums are calculated differently. For Part A, most Medicare recipients are not charged any premium at all.

Seniors at age 65 are eligible for premium-free Part A if they meet the following criteria:

People under age 65 may receive Part A with no liability for premiums under the following circumstances:

Medicare Part B premium

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Medicare Part D Premiums

Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage. Part D plans have their own separate premiums. The national base beneficiary premium amount for Medicare Part D in 2021 is $33.06, but costs vary.

Your Part D Premium will depend on the plan you choose. Just like with your Part B coverage, youll pay an increased cost if you make more than the preset income level.

In 2021, if your income is more than $88,000 per year, youll pay an IRMAA of $12.30 each month on top of the cost of your Part D premium. IRMAA amounts go up from there at higher levels of income.

This means that if you make $95,000 per year, and you select a Part D plan with a monthly premium of $36, your total monthly cost will actually be $48.30.

Unearned Income Medicare Contribution Tax

Giving You the Knowledge about Medicare Premium Payments

There is also an additional tax on unearned income, such as investment income, for those with AGIs higher than the thresholds mentioned above. It is known as the unearned income Medicare contribution tax or the net investment income tax . Taxpayers in this category owe an additional 3.8% Medicare tax on all taxable interest, dividends, capital gains, annuities, royalties, and rental properties that are paid outside of individual retirement accounts or employer-sponsored retirement plans. It also applies to passive income from taxable business activity and to income earned by day traders.

This tax is applied to the lower of the taxpayers net investment income or modified AGIexceeding the listed thresholds. This tax is also levied on income from estates and trusts with income exceeding the AGI threshold limits prescribed for estates and trusts. Deductions that can reduce the amount of taxable net investment income include early withdrawal penalties, investment interest and expenses, and the amount of state tax paid on this income.

When the NIIT legislation was enacted in 2010, the IRS noted in the preamble to its list of regulations that this was a surtax on Medicare. The Joint Committee on Taxation specifically stated: “No provision is made for the transfer of the tax imposed by this provision from the General Fund of the United States Treasury to any Trust Fund.” This means that the funds collected under this tax are left in the federal government’s general fund.

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So How Are The Medicare Premiums You Pay For Calculated

These additional Medicare premiums are all calculated through something called IRMAA, which stands for Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. It is an additional amount that you may have to pay along with your Medicare premium if your modified adjusted gross income is higher than a certain threshold.

Your MAGI is calculated by taking your adjusted gross income plus any of the following that applies to you: untaxed foreign income, non-taxable Social Security benefits, tax-exempt interest, and income from within the US territories that was not already included in AGI. For most people, your MAGI will be the same as your AGI but read this report by the Congressional Research Service here for further details.

In 2021, the IRMAA surcharges only apply if your MAGI is more than $88,000 for an individual, or more than $176,000 for a couple. Most people have income below these levels, so the majority of enrollees will pay the standard premium, $148.50 per month.

Make Your Next Medicare Premium Payment Online

Spend less time paying your billspay your Medicare Part B premium online.

If you get this bill from Medicare for your premiums, you may be able to pay it online with a credit or debit card.

Making your Medicare premium payment online is:

  • Secureyour information is protected
  • Quickyour payments process in about 5 business days
  • Freewe never charge a fee to make a Medicare premium payment

Pay your premium online in 3 easy steps:

  • Log in to your secure Medicare account .
  • Select Pay my premium.
  • Enter the amount you want to pay. Then, we’ll send you to the U.S. Treasurys secure Pay.gov site to complete your payment.
  • Using your secure Medicare account gives you information about your Medicare premium bill and Medicare premium payment history. Youll also get a confirmation number when you make your online Medicare premium paymentthats peace of mind.

    Sign up for Medicare Easy Pay through your online Medicare account

    Instead of making one-time payments, you can sign up for Medicare Easy Pay to set up recurring premium payments that Medicare will automatically deduct from your checking or savings account each month.

    Select My Premiums from the top menu, and then Sign up to fill out a short online form. It can take up to 6-8 weeks before your automatic deductions start. Once Medicare Easy Pay starts, youll see your automatic payments in your online payment history, and well mail you monthly statements instead of a bill from Medicare.

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    How Does Medicare Reimbursement Work

    Medicare allows you to see any doctor you choose, but that doesnt mean all providers handle billing in the same way. Medicare has a schedule of rates it will pay for its covered healthcare services. Those rates are typically much less than a private insurance company would pay.

    Most healthcare doctors are participating providers that accept Medicare assignment. They have agreed to accept Medicares rates as full payment for their services.

    If you see a participating doctor, they handle Medicare billing, and you dont have to file any claim forms. However, certain doctors dont bill Medicare directly.

    If you want Medicare to pay for your care, youll need to send a form to request reimbursement.

    Seeing a Non-participating Doctor

    These doctors accept Medicare patients, but they havent agreed to Medicares rates. They may choose to accept Medicare rates in your case, or they may decide to bill you up to 15% more than the Medicare rate. The extra charge is an excess charge. Non-participating doctors may bill Medicare directly. But they may also ask you to pay up-front and seek reimbursement from Medicare.

    Foreign Travel Care Reimbursement

    Receiving care outside the United States that is covered by Medicare. In general, Medicare doesnt pay for services in foreign countries. But there are a few exceptions where you can file a claim and get reimbursement for your costs.

    Improper Provider Billing

    If you are close to the deadline, you can seek reimbursement.

    Medicare Part D Costs In 2022

    How Long Does Medicare Pay For Long Term Care?

    Youre probably taking at least one prescription medication on a regular basis when you reach retirement age. Thats where Part D comes in.

    You can choose from two options to get prescription medication coverage. You can either sign up with a private insurance company that you can compare on the Medicare website, or you can get prescription drug coverage through your Part C program.

    Like Part C, each plan has different coverage, deductible, and copayment options. Part D is generally included in your plan premium, but those with reported incomes of more than $88,000 will pay an additional amount. The average Part D premium is $33 per month in 2022, up from $31,47 in 2021.

    Make sure that it covers the drugs you take in one of the lower tiers before you sign up with a company. It will help keep your costs under control.

    Other types of benefits, insurance, and social services can sometimes influence Part D benefits.

    You must have Part A and/or Part B or Part C to enroll in Part D.

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    Tips On How To Pay Medicare Premiums

    • Make sure to pay both your Part B and Part C premiums on time so you wont lose coverage. Automatic deductions are the best way to avoid missing a payment.
    • Make sure both Medicare and your Part C provider have your current mailing address for bill delivery .
    • Dont miss more than three months of Medicare Part B payments. Premiums are due the 25th of every month and coverage will end in the fourth month if past due payments are not made.
    • Contact your Medicare Part C provider if you think you will miss a payment. Private insurance companies have their own rules on plan cancellation for nonpayment.

    Additional Cares Act Funding

    On March 27, 2020, former President Donald Trump signed the CARES Acta $2 trillion coronavirus emergency relief packageinto law. A sizable chunk of those funds$100 billionwas earmarked for healthcare providers and suppliers, including those that are Medicare and Medicaid enrolled for expenses related to COVID-19.

    Below are some examples of what the additional funding covers:

    • A 20% increase in Medicare payments to hospitals for COVID-19 patients.
    • A scheduled payment reduction was eliminated for hospitals treating Medicare patients from May 1, 2020, through Dec. 31, 2020.
    • An increase in Medicaid funds for states.

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    Can I Set Up A Recurring Payment Through My Bank

    Generally yes, but you’ll need to ask your bank. If you set up recurring payments each month, make sure the payment amount is correct. It’s up to you to change the payment amount when your premium rate changes. For example, you may need to update the amount in January, when the rates sometimes increase.

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