2018 premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance for Medicare Part A and Part B

Medicare Part B Premiums/Deductibles

The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B enrollees will be $134 for 2018, the same amount as in 2017. Some beneficiaries who were held harmless against Part B premium increases in prior years will have a Part B premium increase in 2018, but the premium increase will be offset by the increase in their Social Security benefits next year.

What is the “Hold Harmless” Provision?

Medicare Part B covers needed services and supplies (like doctor visits) as well as prevention (like flu shots and mammograms). You’ll pay both a monthly premium and an annual deductible, and those rates tend to go up as costs for care increase. However, those cost increases can be passed on to Social Security recipients only in years when they get enough of a COLA increase that their checks won’t decrease. This was put in place to ensure that Social Security checks will not decline from one year to the next because of increases in Medicare Part B premiums.

CMS also announced that the annual deductible for all Medicare Part B beneficiaries will be $183 in 2018, the same annual deductible in 2017. Premiums and deductibles for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug plans are already finalized and are unaffected by this announcement.

Medicare Part A Premiums/Deductibles

The Medicare Part A annual inpatient hospital deductible that beneficiaries pay when admitted to the hospital will be $1,340 per benefit period in 2018, an increase of $24 from $1,316 in 2017.

Part B income-related monthly adjustment amounts (IRMAA)

Beyond these levels, CMS has made adjustments to the Part B income-related monthly adjustment amounts (IRMAA) table. Here is the new table for 2018: