On October 12, 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2019 premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts for the Medicare Part A and Part B programs.
Medicare Part B Premiums/Deductibles
Medicare Part B covers physician services, outpatient hospital services, certain home health services, durable medical equipment, and certain other medical and health services not covered by Medicare Part A.
The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B enrollees will be $135.50 for 2019, an increase of $1.50 from $134 in 2018. An estimated 2 million Medicare beneficiaries (about 3.5%) will pay less than the full Part B standard monthly premium amount in 2019 due to the statutory hold harmless provision, which limits certain beneficiaries’ increase in their Part B premium to be no greater than the increase in their Social Security benefits. The annual deductible for all Medicare Part B beneficiaries is $185 in 2019, an increase of $2 from the annual deductible $183 in 2018. Premiums and deductibles for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug plans are already finalized and are unaffected by this announcement.
Since 2007, a beneficiary’s Part B monthly premium is based on his or her income. These income-related monthly adjustment amounts (IRMAA) affect roughly 5 percent of people with Medicare Part B. The total premiums for high income beneficiaries for 2019 are shown in the following table:
Medicare A & B Premiums, Deductibles, Copays 2019
| Part A (hospital) | Beneficiary pays: |
|---|---|
| Hospital Deductible | $1,364/benefit period |
| Hospital Copay | $341/day for days 61-90 |
| $682/day for days 91-150 | |
| Skilled Nursing Facil Copay | $170.50/day for days 21-100 |
| Part A Premium | $437/month for those with fewer than 30 quarters of Medicare-covered employment |
| $240/month for those with 30-39 quarters of Medicare-covered employment | |
| Part B (doctor, outpatient services, etc.) | Beneficiary pays: |
| Annual Deductible | $185 |
| Part B Premium for those with incomes below $85,000 or $170,000 married couple | $135.50/month – for those beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare prior to 2016, whose premium is taken out of their monthly Social Security benefit |
| Most covered Part B services | 20% |
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