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Medicare Premium Amounts for 2010

Part A: (Hospital Insurance) Premium

• Most people get Part A automatically when they turn age 65. They don't have to pay a monthly payment called a premium for Part A because they or a spouse paid Medicare taxes while they were working.

• You pay up to $461.00 each month if you don’t get premium-free.

• The Part A premium is $254.00 for those individuals having 30-39 quarters of Medicare covered employment.

Part B: (Medical Insurance) Premium

• Most Medicare beneficiaries will continue to pay the same $96.40 Part B premium amount in 2010. 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 for 2010.

For all others, the standard Medicare Part B monthly premium will be $110.50 in 2010, which is a 15% increase over the 2009 premium. The Medicare Part B premium is increasing in 2010 due to possible increases in Part B costs. Some people will pay a higher premium based on their modified adjusted gross income. Learn More

Original Medicare Deductible and Coinsurance Amounts for 2010

Part A: (Hospital Insurance)

Deductible

• $1,100.00 (Per Benefit Period)

Coinsurance

• $275.00 a day for the 61st - 90th day each benefit period.

• $550.00 a day for the 91st - 150th day for each lifetime reserve day (total of 60 lifetime reserve days - non-renewable).

• All costs for each day beyond 150 days.

Skilled Nursing Facility Coinsurance

• Up to $137.50 a day for the 21st - 100th day each benefit period.

Part B: (Medical Insurance)

Deductible

• $155.00 per year. (Note: You pay 20% of the Medicare approved amount for services after you meet the $155.00 deductible.)
• Important Note: Most benficiaries will continue to pay the same $96.40 premium amount they pay today. For additional details, see our FAQ titled: Will my Medicare Part B premium increase in 2010?

See Medicare & You for additional information about Original Medicare coinsurance and copayment amounts.

Help to Pay Your Health Care Costs

Most of your health care costs are covered if you have Medicare and you qualify for Medicaid. Medicaid is a joint Federal and state program that helps pay medical costs for some people with limited incomes and resources. Medicaid programs vary from state to state. People who have Medicaid may also get coverage for nursing home care and outpatient prescription drugs which are not covered by Medicare. You can find more information about Medicaid on cms.hhs.gov.

States also have programs that pay some or all of Medicare's premiums and may also pay Medicare deductibles and coinsurance for certain people who have Medicare and a low income. To qualify, you must have:

• Part A (Hospital Insurance),
• Assets, such as bank accounts, stocks, and bonds that are not more that $4,000 for a single person, or $6,000 for a couple, and
• A monthly income that is below certain limits.

For more information on Medicare savings programs, look at the Medicare Savings Programs publication.

You can also get information on a wide range of programs that may assist you with your prescription drug and other health care costs in our Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder tool.

Page Last Updated: September 17, 2008