Medicare Part B – Medical Insurance

Medicare Part B covers a portion of:

• Outpatient speech therapy
• Certain home health care
• Certain ambulance services
• Certain medical equipment and supplies

Part B coverage is optional. If you or your spouse is still working and covered by your employer group health plan, you may not need this part of Medicare until you or your spouse retires. Learn more.

The standard Medicare Part B premium for 2020 is $144.60. Most people pay the standard premium, and have it automatically deducted from their Social Security check every month. A small percentage of Medicare beneficiaries pay less than the standard premium because the annual increase to their Social Security benefits is not large enough to cover the full Part B premium increase. Beneficiaries with higher incomes will pay higher Part B premiums.

NOTE: If you don’t receive Social Security benefits, you will be billed for Part B. Also, people with higher incomes (individuals with annual incomes over $87,000 and couples with incomes over $174,000) will pay a higher Part B premium than the standard $144.60 amount. See table below.

2020 Part B Premiums & Deductibles

The chart below lists the Part B premiums and deductibles. For a comprehensive list of both Part A and Part B costs, see our summary chart, Medicare Benefits & Cost-Sharing for 2020.

* Premium is per person

See also:

• Medicare Part A
• Enrolling in Medicare Parts A and B
• Chart on Medicare Benefits and Cost-Sharing