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Medicare Part B Premiums for 2008
Elder Law Today Podcast
English - January 29, 2008 14:00 - ★★★★★ - 7 ratingsHealth & Fitness Education law elder estate planning geriatric lawyer legal care Homepage Download Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
I was speaking with someone the other day who told me her Social Security monthly check declined from 2007 to 2008 and asked if that was possible or a mistake. While the government does on occasion make mistakes (hard to believe), an increase in the Medicare Part B premium may have resulted in the decrease. Part B generally covers outpatient services, such as doctors visits and home health services. Medicare recipients pay a portion of the premium for this benefit, which increases every year. (In 2008 the premium is $96.40.) The monthly Social Security benefit also increases, resulting in a net increase in the monthly check from year to year.
This year, however, for the first time, higher income beneficiaries will pay a higher premium for Part B. Individuals with income between $82,000 and $102,000 per year will pay a monthly premium of $122.20. Married couples with income between $164,000 and $204,000 will pay the same premium amount. There are 3 other income levels which result in higher premiums, the top level being $205,000 per year of income for individuals and $410,000 for married couples. The premium in that case is $238.40 per month.