High-income seniors pay more for Medicare Part B, which covers doctors’ bills and other non-hospital charges. Here’s the schedule for 2010, according to the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS):
Individual beneficiaries who file an income tax return with income: less than or equal to $85,000, $110.50; Greater than $85,000 and less than or equal to $107,000, $154.70; Greater than $107,000 and less than or equal to $160,000, $221; Greater than $160,000 and less than or equal to $214,000, $287.30; Greater than $214,000, $353.60. The thresholds are doubled for joint filers.
Thus, if a married couple is both enrolled in Medicare, with joint income of $171,000, they would each pay about $155 a month for Part B. That’s $310 a month, or $3,720 a year. Upper-income couples could pay more than twice as much. Legislation before Congress might trim those costs somewhat but they still would be substantial.
What’s more, the premiums are based on 2008 income. Someone who has retired since then may have much lower income but is still expected to pay the higher premiums in 2010. If you or your parents are in that situation (or if income is much lower for some other reason), call Medicare or Social Security to request a reduced premium; reductions will be granted in some situations.
