Medicare Coverage:
2011 Part B Premium Amounts for Persons with Higher Income Levels
Most Medicare beneficiaries will continue to pay the same $96.40 or $110.50 Part B premium amount in 2011. Beneficiaries who currently have the Social Security Administration (SSA) withhold their
Part B premium and have incomes of $85,000 or less ($170,000 or less for joint filers) will not have an increase in their Part B premium for 2011. For additional details, see our FAQ titled: Will
my Medicare Part B premiums increase in 2011?
For all others, the standard Medicare Part B monthly premium will be $115.40 in 2011, which is a 4.4% increase over the 2010 premium. The Medicare Part B premium is increasing in 2011 due to possible
increases in Part B costs. If your income is above $85,000 (single) or $170,000 (married couple), then your Medicare Part B premium may be higher than $115.40 per month.
Social Security will use the income reported two years ago on your IRS income tax return to determine your premium (if unavailable, SSA will use income from three years ago). For example,
the income reported on your 2009 tax return will be used to determine your monthly Part B premium in 2011. If your income has decreased since 2009, you can ask that the income from a more recent
tax year be used to determine your premium, but you must meet certain criteria.
The chart below shows the Part B monthly premium amounts based on income. These amounts change each year. There may be a late-enrollment penalty.
Table 1: Part B Monthly Premium |
| |
Beneficiaries who file anindividual tax return with income |
Beneficiaries who file ajoint tax return with income |
| Your 2011 Part B Monthly Premium Is |
If Your Yearly Income Is |
$96.40 if beneficiary had SSA withhold in 2009
$110.50 if beneficiary was new in 2010 and had SSA withhold
$115.40 for all others |
$85,000 or less |
$170,000 or less |
$161.50
(increased by $46.10 due to IRMAA)
|
$85,001-$107,000 |
$170,001-$214,000 |
$230.70
(increased by $115.30 due to IRMAA) |
$107,001-$160,000 |
$214,001-$320,000 |
$299.90
(increased by $184.50 due to IRMAA)
|
$160,001-$214,000 |
$320,001-$428,000 |
$369.10
(increased by $253.70 due to IRMAA)
|
Above $214,000 |
Above $428,000 |
Table 2: Part B Monthly Premium Beneficiaries who are married, but file a separate tax return from their spouse and lived with his
or her spouse at some time during the taxable year |
| Your 2010 Monthly Premium is |
Beneficiaries who are married but file a separate tax return from his or her spouse |
$96.40 if beneficiary had SSA withhold in 2009
$110.50 if beneficiary was new in 2010 and had SSA withhold
$115.40 for all others |
$85,000 or less |
$299.90
(increased by $184.50 due to IRMAA)
|
$85,001-$129,000 |
$369.10
(increased by $253.70 due to IRMAA)
|
Above $129,000 |
If you are having trouble paying your premiums, you should call your State Medical Assistance (Medicaid) office to see if you qualify for some help. Some states refer to the Medicaid office as the
Public Aid office, the Public Assistance office, or the State Medical Assistance office.
INCOME RELATED MONTHLY ADJUSTMENT AMOUNT (IRMAA)
The Internal Revenue Service supplies your tax filing status, your adjusted gross income, and your tax-exempt interest income to the Social Security Administration to determine if you have an income
related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA). The Social Security Administration will add your adjusted gross income together with your tax-exempt interest income to get an amount called the modified
adjusted gross income (MAGI).
The income-related monthly adjustment amount is effective from January 1 through December 31 each calendar year. The Social Security Administration will refigure your Medicare Part B premium amount
again next year when the Internal Revenue Service updates the information.
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