Medicare Part B covers a portion of:
- Doctors’ services
- Outpatient hospital care
- Laboratory tests
- Outpatient physical therapy
- 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 2024 is $174.70. 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.
As of 2023, certain Medicare enrollees who are 36 months post kidney transplant, and therefore no longer eligible for full Medicare coverage, can elect to continue Part B coverage of immunosuppressive drugs by paying a monthly premium ($103 in 2024). People with higher incomes pay higher 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 $103,000 and couples with incomes over $206,000) will pay a higher Part B premium than the standard $174.70 amount. See table below.
2024 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 2024.
Part B – Medical Insurance Premiums & Deductibles
| For 2024 | For 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Deductible | $240 | $226 |
| Your Annual Income | Your Monthly Premium* | Your Monthly Premium* |
| $174.70 | $164.90 |
| $244.60 | $230.80 |
| $349.40 | $329.70 |
| $454.20 | $428.60 |
| $559 | $527.50 |