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 2019 is $135.50. Most people pay the standard premium, and have it automatically deducted from their Social Security check every month. An estimated 2 million Medicare beneficiaries (about 3.5%) will pay less than the standard premium, because the increase to their Social Security benefits will not be large enough to cover the full Part B premium increase. Beneficiaries with higher incomes will pay higher Part B premiums. Those who pay the standard premium include:

• People newly eligible for Medicare (whose Medicare becomes effective January 1, 2019 or later)
• Beneficiaries who do not have their Part B premium deducted from their Social Security check, and
• Beneficiaries who also qualify for full Medi-Cal benefits or a Medicare Savings Program (because Medi-Cal pays the Part B premium).

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 $85,000 and couples with incomes over $170,000) will pay a higher Part B premium than the standard $135.50 amount. See table below.

2019 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 2019.

* Premium is per person

** The standard Medicare Part B premium for 2019 is $135.50. An estimated 2 million Medicare beneficiaries (about 3.5%) will pay less than the standard premium, because the increase to their Social Security benefits will not be large enough to cover the full Part B premium increase. Beneficiaries with higher incomes will pay higher Part B premiums. Those who pay the standard premium include:

• People newly eligible for Medicare (whose Medicare becomes effective January 1, 2019 or later)
• Beneficiaries who do not have their Part B premium deducted from their Social Security check, and
• Beneficiaries who also qualify for full Medi-Cal benefits or a Medicare Savings Program (because Medi-Cal pays the Part B premium).

Note: Income categories for the Part B premiums will be frozen through 2019 and will not be adjusted annually for inflation. This means that more people will reach the threshold and pay a higher amount for their Part B premium.

See also:

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