Medicare Premiums: Rules For Higher-Income Beneficiaries 
The law requires an adjustment to your monthly Medicare Part B medical insurance and Medicare prescription drug coverage premiums. This affects less than five percent of people with Medicare. Most people don t pay higher premiums. 

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. It also covers other medical services, such as physical and occupational therapy, and some home health care. For most beneficiaries , the government pays a substantial portion about 75 percent of the Part B premium , and the beneficiary pays the remaining 25 percent. If we determine you re a higher - income beneficiary , you ll pay a larger percentage of the total cost of Part B based on the income you normally report to the Internal Revenue Service IRS. You ll pay monthly Part B premiums equal to 35 , 50 , 65 , 80, or 85 percent of the total cost, depending on what you report to the IRS. Medicare prescription drug coverage helps pay for your prescription drugs. For most beneficiaries , the government pays a major portion of the total costs for this coverage , and the beneficiary pays the rest. Prescription drug plan costs vary depending on the plan, and whether you get the Extra Help, also known as the subsidy, with your portion of the Medicare prescription drug coverage costs. If you re a higher - income beneficiary with Medicare prescription drug coverage , you ll pay monthly premiums plus an additional amount, which is based on what you report to the IRS. Because individual plan premiums vary , the law specifies that the amount is determined using a base premium. We tie the additional amount you pay to the base beneficiary premium, not your own premium amount

user: I came here looking for information on medicare premiums. Perhaps you can help me out.

assistant: Of course. The law requires an adjustment to your monthly Medicare Part B medical insurance and Medicare prescription drug coverage premiums. This affects less than five percent of people with Medicare. Most people don't pay higher premiums.

user: Well, that's interesting. What can you tell me about monthly medicare premiums in 2020?

assistant: The standard Part B premium for 2020 is $ 144.60.

assistant: Are you single and filed an individual tax return, or married and filed a joint tax return?

user: No, to both. I didn't file a tax return yet.

user: What if I earn a lot less money now and fulfill the requirements for a new decision?

assistant: In that case we need to see documentation verifying the event and the reduction in your income. The documentation you provide should relate to the event and may include a death certificate, a letter from your employer about your retirement, or something similar.

user: How can I find more information about what Medicare covers?

assistant: Simply visit the Medicare website, or call 1-800-MEDICARE 1-800-633-4227;  TTY 1-877-486-2048. Your State Health Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program SHIP also can help answer your Medicare questions.

user: I'll visit the website, alright. Is there anything I should know if you are still using my 2017 tax year data?

assistant: If you filed a return for tax year 2018 or did not need to file a tax return for tax year 2018, call us or visit any local Social Security office. We'll update our records.