Medicare Costs for 2020

There are several questions about Medicare costs for 2020. You may wish to know the cost of Medicare or if you are required to pay for it. Another common question regarding Medicare is the premium in 2020 and will the Part B free.

When you turn 65, you will know that Medicare is not free. You will have to pay for its premium. Indeed, there are plans with a $0 premium. However, they come with several out-of-pocket expenses.

You do need to pay for Medicare. But some people don’t have to. If you need to pay for it, please check our guide below to help choose the right plan.

For most people, the cost of Medicare Part A depends on how long you have been working in the US. Keep in mind that if you’ve worked for 10 years, then you’ve paid for Part A through your payroll taxes. Thus, the majority of beneficiaries will get part A for free.

However, if you need to purchase Part, then the cost can be around $458 per month. If you’ve worked in less than 40 quarters but over 30 quarters, then you will have to pay a pro-rated premium of around $252 per month.

There are eligibility requirements for Part A. You need to be a legal resident of the US. If not, you must have a green card for at least 5 years.

Apart from the monthly premium of Part A, you will also take care of its deductible. If you need to be hospitalized in 2020, you will be paying $1,408 for Part A’s deductible in 2020. This amount is higher than 2019’s Part A deductible of $1,364. But beneficiaries of the Medigap plan don’t have to fret because this amount is likely covered by the said plan.

If you have Social Security benefits, then your Part B monthly premium in 2020 will be less than $144.60. An estimated two million Medicare subscribers are paying such amount. The Part B monthly premium must not be higher than the Social Security yearly cost-of-living increase because of the legislation.

In the past years, individuals with low COLA are paying less than the standard rate of Part B premium. Even though the SS COLA increases in the last two years, there is still a small portion of subscribers that are protected by the provision that calls for hold harmless.

It can be upsetting to compute your Part B premium. But don’t be. It is the Social Security’s job to determine your Part B monthly premium for 2020. It will also notify you by mail if there are adjustments in your income limits and you will know whether or not you will have to pay a higher amount.

If you enroll in part B for the first time in 2020 or after that year, then you will pay for the standard Part B premium. Furthermore, you will pay the standard amount if you don’t have Social Security benefits or that your Part B premium is billed directly.

On the other hand, if you have Medicaid and Medicare, then Medicare will pay for your premiums while your state pays for the standard monthly cost.

Now, if your reported MAGI two years ago was more than a certain amount, then you will pay the standard Part B monthly amount. You will also pay for the Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA), which is an additional fee to your premium.

When the MACRA legislation was approved a few years ago, the number of people belonging to the income brackets increased in 2018 and 2019. Every few years, these income limits are adjusted. Thus, you need to study the data regularly.

The monthly premium of Part D in 2020 will also hinge on your income and the Part D plan. Every state has over 20 Part D plans that you can choose from.

In most states, Part D plans will cost between $10 and $15 per month. It is the base premium for this type of health plan.

If you wish to know the Part D drug plan cost in 2020 based on your income, please review the table below.

Social Security Check Deduction to Pay for Medicare

Your Medicare premiums are deducted from your SS check after signing up for the income benefits. However, you must take note that the premiums you pay through SS check are typically for Part B. The reason for this is that Part A is typically free.

If you are in the higher income bracket, your premium is higher than the base premium. It means that you will pay more for it. It is a vital factor in comparing the cost for Medicare Part D against the cost of this plan through other insurance.

Can I Consider Medicare Premiums as Medical Expenses? Yes, they can be considered as part of your medical expenses. It means that they are tax-deductible. In that case, you can deduct them if your adjusted gross income is above 10%. A portion of your income will be excluded from being taxed.

However, just to make sure, you need to talk to a tax professional before you can deduct your Medicare premiums as part of your medical expenses. You may also wish to talk to our health insurance experts to help you determine if you can deduct the premiums in your taxes.

It depends on your income and the health plan you pick. That’s why it is ideal that you talk to our health insurance experts to help you determine the overall cost of Medicare.

It is also worth noting that Medicare premium increases each year, although the increase is not significant. Whether you find that your premium increases every year or not, make sure that you get some estimates before you even retire. In that way, you can plan ahead and save a lot of money for your future medical needs.

You may call us through the phone to determine the potential Medicare Cost in 2020.