Medicare Blog

why am i getting an additional bill for my medicare

by Wilber Mann PhD Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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A: It's likely you are receiving the extra bill because you're now subject to the Medicare high-income surcharge, officially called the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. If this is the case, your bill will say "IRMAA."

You may have to pay an additional premium if you're enrolled in a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan, or Medicare Advantage plan. In this case, your plan will send you a bill for your premium, and you'll send the payment to your plan, not the Medicare program.

Full Answer

Why don't I get a bill from Medicare?

Most people don't get a bill from Medicare because they get these premiums deducted automatically from their Social Security (or Railroad Retirement Board) benefit.) Your bill pays for next month's coverage (and future months if you get the bill every 3 months).

What if I get a Medicare bill for charges Medicare covers?

If you’re in the QMB Program and get a bill for charges Medicare covers: 1. Tell your provider or the debt collector that you're in the QMB Program and can’t be charged for Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. If you’ve already made payments on a bill for services and items Medicare covers, you have the right to a refund.

Do I have to pay extra for Medicare extra help?

Most people who qualify for Extra Help also pay nothing for their monthly premium or yearly deductible. If you qualify for full Extra Help and are paying a premium for your Medicare drug plan, you can join another plan and pay no premium in 2019.

Can I get a refund on a Medicare bill?

If you’ve already made payments on a bill for services and items Medicare covers, you have the right to a refund. Tip: To make sure your provider knows you’re in the QMB Program, show both your Medicare and Medicaid or QMB card each time you get care. You can also give your provider a copy of your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN).

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Why am I getting charged more for Medicare B?

If You Have a Higher Income If you have higher income, you'll pay an additional premium amount for Medicare Part B and Medicare prescription drug coverage. We call the additional amount the “income-related monthly adjustment amount.” Here's how it works: Part B helps pay for your doctors' services and outpatient care.

Why is my first Medicare Part B bill so high?

If you're late signing up for Original Medicare (Medicare Parts A and B) and/or Medicare Part D, you may owe late enrollment penalties. This amount is added to your Medicare Premium Bill and may be why your first Medicare bill was higher than you expected.

Do I have to pay extra for Medicare?

Most people don't pay a monthly premium for Part A (sometimes called "premium-free Part A"). If you buy Part A, you'll pay up to $499 each month in 2022. If you paid Medicare taxes for less than 30 quarters, the standard Part A premium is $499.

Will I get a bill for Medicare Part B?

If you have Medicare Part B but you are not receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits yet, you will get a bill called a “Notice of Medicare Premium Payment Due” (CMS-500). You will need to make arrangements to pay this bill every month.

What is the standard Medicare Part B premium for 2021?

$148.50Medicare Part B Premium and Deductible The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B enrollees will be $170.10 for 2022, an increase of $21.60 from $148.50 in 2021. The annual deductible for all Medicare Part B beneficiaries is $233 in 2022, an increase of $30 from the annual deductible of $203 in 2021.

How much does Social Security take out for Medicare each month?

In 2021, based on the average social security benefit of $1,514, a beneficiary paid around 9.8 percent of their income for the Part B premium. Next year, that figure will increase to 10.6 percent.

Is Medicare Part B automatically deducted from Social Security?

Yes. In fact, if you are signed up for both Social Security and Medicare Part B — the portion of Medicare that provides standard health insurance — the Social Security Administration will automatically deduct the premium from your monthly benefit.

What are Medicare costs for 2021?

The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B enrollees will be $148.50 for 2021, an increase of $3.90 from $144.60 in 2020. The annual deductible for all Medicare Part B beneficiaries is $203 in 2021, an increase of $5 from the annual deductible of $198 in 2020.

Is Medicare Part A free at age 65?

You are eligible for premium-free Part A if you are age 65 or older and you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. You can get Part A at age 65 without having to pay premiums if: You are receiving retirement benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.

How often does Medicare bill for Part B?

every 3 monthsA person enrolled in original Medicare Part A receives a premium bill every month, and Part B premium bills are due every 3 months. Premium payments are due toward the end of the month.

Are Medicare Part B premiums going up in 2021?

In November 2021, CMS announced the monthly Medicare Part B premium would rise from $148.50 in 2021 to $170.10 in 2022, a 14.5% ($21.60) increase.

How do you qualify for $144 back from Medicare?

How do I qualify for the giveback?Are enrolled in Part A and Part B.Do not rely on government or other assistance for your Part B premium.Live in the zip code service area of a plan that offers this program.Enroll in an MA plan that provides a giveback benefit.

Why is my Part B so high?

According to CMS.gov, “The increase in the Part B premiums and deductible is largely due to rising spending on physician-administered drugs. These higher costs have a ripple effect and result in higher Part B premiums and deductible.”

Why did Medicare Part B premium go up so much in 2022?

CMS explained that the increase for 2022 was due in part to the potential costs associated with the new Alzheimer's drug, Aduhelm (aducanumab), manufactured by Biogen, which had an initial annual price tag of $56,000.

Is Medicare Part B automatically deducted from Social Security?

Yes. In fact, if you are signed up for both Social Security and Medicare Part B — the portion of Medicare that provides standard health insurance — the Social Security Administration will automatically deduct the premium from your monthly benefit.

Does Medicare Part B premium change every year based on income?

Medicare premiums are based on your modified adjusted gross income, or MAGI. That's your total adjusted gross income plus tax-exempt interest, as gleaned from the most recent tax data Social Security has from the IRS.

What is the credibility of a retirement plan?

Credibility means that the retiree plan is comparable to a typical Medicare Part D plan. Armed with this statement — which employers are legally required to provide you upon request — you should appeal to Social Security to stop deducting Part D payments.

What is the money taken from your payroll check used for?

It’s like I’m being charged twice! Phil Moeller: The money taken from your payroll check is used to fund Part A of Medicare, which covers hospital and nursing home expenses. People who have worked long enough to qualify for Social Security benefits are entitled to Part A without having to pay a premium.

When can you start receiving survivor benefits?

Normal retirement benefits cannot be started before the age of 62, whereas survivor benefits can begin at age 60 . The fact that your benefits began at age 60 leads me to think that you are receiving a survivor benefit and that you can later switch to your own retirement benefit.

Can a widow defer their own Social Security?

Under Social Security rules, a person who takes a survivor (widow) benefit can defer their own retirement benefit, allowing it to grow until the age of 70, when it reaches its maximum value. Under Social Security rules, a person who takes a survivor benefit can defer their own retirement benefit.

Does Medicare cover assisted living?

Phil Moeller: Your note says she would lose her Medicare, but I think what’s at stake here is whether she would lose her eligibility for Medicaid. Medicare does not cover assisted living, but Medicaid does. States pay a substantial share of Medicaid expenses and require income and assets tests to qualify.

Can Social Security be reduced?

As far as limits on your earnings are concerned, someone gave you bad information. It is true that your Social Security benefits may be reduced because of outside wage earnings. But any reductions caused by what’s known as Social Security’s earnings test will disappear when you reach your full retirement age.

Who is Philip Moeller?

Editor’s Note: Journalist Philip Moeller is here to provide the answers you need on aging and retirement. His weekly column, “Ask Phil,” aims to help older Americans and their families by answering their health care and financial questions. Phil is the author of the new book, “Get What’s Yours for Medicare,” and co-author ...

Medicare typically bills in 3-month increments, if you don't have your premiums automatically deducted from Social Security

Medicare helps pay for a variety of healthcare services, but it isn't free. Beneficiaries are responsible for a variety of Medicare costs, including monthly premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance or copayments.

Who Gets a Medicare Premium Bill?

The Medicare Premium Bill (CMS-500) goes to beneficiaries who pay Medicare directly for their Part A premium, Part B premium, or who owe the Part D Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA). Please note that, even if you collect Social Security, if you owe the Part D IRMAA, you must pay the surcharge directly to Medicare.

How Much Should Your Medicare Premium Bill Be?

How much your Medicare premiums cost depends on which parts of Medicare you have and whether you qualify for premium-free Part A.

How Do You Know if You Owe the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount?

Using data from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Social Security Administration (SSA) determines who owes the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. SSA will notify you if you owe IRMAA. This notification will include information about appealing the IRMAA decision.

Did You Delay Signing Up for Medicare?

If you delayed Medicare enrollment and did not qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP), your monthly premiums may be higher due to late enrollment penalties.

What Is the Medicare Late Enrollment Penalty?

You may owe the late enrollment penalty for Part A, Part B, or Part D – or all three. How much you owe and how it's calculated depends on the part and how long you went without Medicare coverage.

Ways to Pay Your Medicare Premium Bill

Sign up for Medicare Easy Pay, which allows Medicare to automatically deduct your premiums from your personal savings or checking account.

Medicaid

Medicaid is a joint federal/state program that helps with medical costs for some people with limited income and resources.

Medicare Savings Programs

State Medicare Savings Programs (MSP) programs help pay premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, prescription drug coverage costs.

PACE

PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly) is a Medicare/Medicaid program that helps people meet health care needs in the community.

Lower prescription costs

Qualify for extra help from Medicare to pay the costs of Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D). You'll need to meet certain income and resource limits.

Programs for people in U.S. territories

Programs in Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, for people with limited income and resources.

Find your level of Extra Help (Part D)

Information for how to find your level of Extra Help for Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D).

Insure Kids Now

The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provides free or low-cost health coverage for more than 7 million children up to age 19. CHIP covers U.S. citizens and eligible immigrants.

What to do if your provider won't stop billing you?

If the medical provider won’t stop billing you, call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) . TTY users can call (877) 486-2048 . Medicare can confirm that you’re in the QMB Program. Medicare can also ask your provider to stop billing you, and refund any payments you’ve already made. 3.

How to contact CFPB about debt collection?

If you have a problem with a debt collector, you can submit a complaint online or call the CFPB at (855) 411-2372 . TTY/TDD users can call (855) 729-2372 . We'll forward your complaint to the debt collection company and work to get you a response from them.

Is Medicare billed for QMB?

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has heard from people with Medicare who report being billed for covered services, even though they’re in the QMB program.

Who wrote the QMB blog?

By Stacy Canan and Tim Engelhardt – MAY 10, 2019. This blog was originally published on January 18, 2017. If you’re among the 7.5 million people in the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) Program , doctors, suppliers, and other providers should not bill you for services and items covered by Medicare, including deductibles, coinsurance, ...

Can you get a bill for QMB?

If you’re in the QMB Program and get a bill for charges Medicare covers: 1. Tell your provider or the debt collector that you're in the QMB Program and can’t be charged for Medicare deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments.

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