What You'll Pay Medicare Part D Coverage

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published 23 November 2015

I used the Kiplinger Medicare calculator to determine the cost of Medicare Part B in 2016. Now I’m wondering who has to pay the high-income surcharge for Part D prescription-drug coverage?

If your adjusted gross income plus income from tax-exempt interest is more than $85,000 (or $170,000 if you’re married filing jointly), you’ll pay a high-income surcharge to Medicare for Part D in addition to your insurer’s regular Part D premiums. This high-income surcharge runs from $12.70 to $72.90 per person per month, depending on your income.

Medicare Part D prescription-drug plans are provided by private insurers. The average cost of a Part D plan in 2016 is $33 per month, but the specific premium is based on the plan you select. You have from October 15 to December 7 to choose a plan for 2016. You can search for plans available in your area with the Medicare Plan Finder. See our Guide to Medicare Open Enrollment for more information about choosing a plan.

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Taxable Income	Monthly MedicarePart D Surcharge (per Person)
$85,001 - $107,000(or $170,001 - $214,000 for joint filers)	$12.70
$107,001 - $160,000(or $214,001 - $320,000 for joint filers)	$32.80
$160,001 - $214,000(or $320,001 - $428,000 for joint filers)	$52.80
more than $214,000(or more than $428,000 for joint filers)	$72.90

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Ask Kim

As the "Ask Kim" columnist for Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Lankford receives hundreds of personal finance questions from readers every month. She is the author of Rescue Your Financial Life (McGraw-Hill, 2003), The Insurance Maze: How You Can Save Money on Insurance -- and Still Get the Coverage You Need (Kaplan, 2006), Kiplinger's Ask Kim for Money Smart Solutions (Kaplan, 2007) and The Kiplinger/BBB Personal Finance Guide for Military Families. She is frequently featured as a financial expert on television and radio, including NBC's Today Show, CNN, CNBC and National Public Radio.