What You'll Pay for Medicare Premiums in 2019
A new surcharge tier will kick in for 2019 for people with the highest incomes.
Question: How much will I pay for Medicare Part B in 2019?
Answer: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced that most people will pay $135.50 per month for Medicare Part B in 2019, up slightly from $134 per month in 2018.
A small group of Medicare beneficiaries (about 3.5%) will pay less because the cost-of-living increase in their Social Security benefits is not large enough to cover the full premium increase. The “hold-harmless provision” prevents enrollees’ annual increase in Medicare premiums from exceeding their cost-of-living increase in Social Security benefits if their premiums are automatically deducted from their Social Security payments. Social Security benefits are increasing by 2.8% in 2019, which will cover the increase in premiums for most people.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Premium increases are also minor for most higher-income beneficiaries—those with adjusted gross income plus tax-exempt interest income of more than $85,000 if single or $170,000 if married filing jointly. These beneficiaries already pay a high-income surcharge, but a new surcharge tier will kick in for 2019 for people with the highest incomes. Overall, monthly premiums for higher-income beneficiaries will range from $189.60 to $460.50 per person, depending on income.
If your income is $85,001 to $107,000 (or $170,001 to $214,000 if filing jointly), your monthly premium will rise from $187.50 to $189.60. Monthly premiums for singles with an income of $107,001 to $133,500 (joint filers with income of $214,001 to $267,000) will increase from $267.90 to $270.90. And premiums for singles earning $133,501 to $160,000 ($267,001 to $320,000 for joint filers) will rise from $348.30 to $352.20.
If you had higher income than that, your monthly premium for 2018 was $428.60. In 2019, there will be an extra surcharge tier for people with the highest income.
If your income is between $160,001 and $499,999 ($320,001 to $749,999 for joint filers), you’ll pay $433.40 per month. Single filers with income of $500,000 or more ($750,000 or more for joint filers) will pay $460.50 per month.
High-income surcharges for 2019 are generally based on your 2017 income. If you’ve experienced certain life-changing events that have reduced your income since then, such as retirement, divorce or the death of a spouse, you can contest the surcharge. For more information about contesting or reducing the high-income surcharge, see Save Money on Medicare. Also see Medicare Premiums: Rules for Higher-Income Beneficiaries for the procedure.
Deductibles will also go up in 2019. The deductible for Medicare Part A, which covers hospital services, will increase from $1,340 in 2018 to $1,364 in 2019.
The deductible for Medicare Part B, which covers physician services and other outpatient services, will see a mild bump from $183 to $185.
What You'll Pay for Medicare in 2019
Income (adjusted gross income plus tax-exempt interest income): | ||
---|---|---|
Single tax return | Married filing jointly | Monthly Part B premium (per person) |
$85,000 or less | $170,000 or less | $135.50 (may be less if covered by the hold-harmless provision) |
$85,001 to $107,000 | $170,001 to $214,000 | $189.60 |
$107,001 to $133,500 | $214,001 to $267,000 | $270.90 |
$133,501 to $160,000 | $267,001 to $320,000 | $352.20 |
$160,001 to $499,999 | $320,001 to $749,999 | $433.40 |
$500,000 or more | $750,000 or more | $460.50 |
Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.
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.
-
Best 529 Plans of 2024
Check out the best 529 plans of 2024 and find the best plan for your child or grandchild’s college savings.
By Erin Bendig Published
-
Harris vs Trump on Medicare Drug Price Negotiations: Fact Check
A fact check of what the Trump and Biden-Harris administrations did around Medicare drug price negotiations.
By Jacob Gardenswartz | KFF Health News Published
-
Medicaid Managed Care Groups Under Congressional Investigation
Lawmakers question Medicaid MCOs over their high rates of prior authorization denials.
By Joey Solitro Published
-
Considering a Medicare Advantage Plan? Be Wary of Promises
These private insurance alternatives to Medicare are growing in popularity at the same time they’re under scrutiny for their sales tactics and coverage.
By Elaine Silvestrini Last updated
-
Medicare Costs to Go Down in 2023
Retirement Lower-than-expected spending on an expensive drug and other things means beneficiaries will pay less next year.
By Elaine Silvestrini Last updated
-
Create a Special Needs Plan That Goes the Distance
estate planning Getting the services needed for a person with a disability can take some careful planning, considering some important benefits programs limit the assets owned to just $2,000.
By Kara Duckworth, CFP®, CDFA® Published
-
Age Magnificently with the Help of a Geriatric Care Manager
retirement Geriatric care managers help families map the coming changes and explore the options before they are even needed.
By Joel Theisen, RN Published
-
Shingles Vaccines Work. But Medicare Won’t Always Cover Them.
Medicare Traditional Medicare Part B does not cover some recommended vaccines, including shingles shots; prescription drug plans include commercially available vaccinations, but are likely to require some payments from beneficiaries.
By Elaine Silvestrini Published
-
Estate Planning: A Special Trust for a Special Need
Caregiving Special needs trusts can help fund quality-of-life improvements for the beneficiary, such as a phone, a trip or a private room in a group care facility.
By David Rodeck Published
-
Long-Term Care Insurance: Higher Premiums for Shrinking Benefits
Long-Term Care Insurance There's a 70% chance you'll need some type of long-term care. Getting the right insurance is more complex these days. Here's some guidance.
By Alina Tugend Published