Medicare Card and Social Security Card Number Information 2018

	Will my Medicare Part B premiums increase in 2018? Most Medicare beneficiaries will continue to pay the same $96.40 or $110.50 Part B premium amount in 2018. 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 2018. For additional details, see our FAQ titled:  For all others, the standard Medicare Part B monthly premium will be $115.40 in 2018, which is a 4.4% increase over the 2018 premium. The Medicare Part B premium is increasing in 2018 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 2018. 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. 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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The following is a listing of the Medicare premium, deductible, and coinsurance rates that will be in effect in 2018:

Medicare Premiums for 2018:

Part A: (Hospital Insurance) Premium

• Most people do not pay a monthly Part A premium because they or a spouse has 40 or more quarters of Medicare-covered employment.
• The Part A premium is $254.00 per month for people having 30-39 quarters of Medicare-covered employment.
• The Part A premium is $461.00 per month for people who are not otherwise eligible for premium-free hospital insurance and have less than 30 quarters of Medicare-covered employment.

Part B: (Medical Insurance) Premium

Most beneficiaries will continue to pay the same $96.40 premium amount in 2018.  Beneficiaries who currently have the Social Security Administration (SSA) withhold their Part B premium and have incomes of $85,000 or less (or $170,000 or less for joint filers) will not have an increase in their Part B premium in 2018. 

For all others, the standard Medicare Part B monthly premium will be $110.50 in 2018, which is a 15% increase over the 2009 premium.  The Medicare Part B premium is increasing in 2018 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 $110.50 per month.  For additional details, see the FAQ titled: "2018 Part B Premium Amounts for Persons with Higher Income Levels".

Medicare Deductible and Coinsurance Amounts for 2018:

Part A: (pays for inpatient hospital, skilled nursing facility, and some home health care) For each benefit period Medicare pays all covered costs except the Medicare Part A deductible (2018 = $1,100) during the first 60 days and coinsurance amounts for hospital stays that last beyond 60 days and no more than 150 days.

For each benefit period you pay:

• A total of $1,100 for a hospital stay of 1-60 days.
• $275 per day for days 61-90 of a hospital stay.
• $550 per day for days 91-150 of a hospital stay (Lifetime Reserve Days).
• All costs for each day beyond 150 days

Skilled Nursing Facility Coinsurance

• $137.50 per day for days 21 through 100 each benefit period.

Part B: (covers Medicare eligible physician services, outpatient hospital services, certain home health services, durable medical equipment)

• $155.00 per year. (Note: You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for services after you meet the $155.00 deductible.)

Additional information about the Medicare premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance rates for 2018 is available in the October 16, 2009 Fact Sheet titled, "CMS Announces Medicare Premiums, Deductibles for 2018" on the www.cms.gov website.

For more information and to find publication copies visit www.socialsecurity.gov or call toll-free, 1-800-772-1213 (for the deaf or hard of hearing, call our TTY number, 1-800-325-0778). They can answer specific questions from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday including an automated phone service 24 hours a day.

Calls are treated confidentially. They will make sure you receive accurate and courteous service by having a second Social Security representative monitor some telephone calls. To protect your personal information and prevent identity theft, they cannot issue Social Security numbers or cards online.