What is the Medicare Part B premium 2024?
How much do you have to pay in 2024 when you are on Medicare and visit your doctor or other health care providers?
The standard rate for Part B in 2024 is $174.70 for most persons enrolled in Medicare, or higher if you filed in your last taxes an income above $97,000 ($194,000 joint filing). Social Security will tell you the exact amount you will have to pay. For detailed rates, you may also check out medicare.gov.
To be covered by Medicare, you need to make sure that your health care provider accepts Medicare. In case you see a provider that does not accept Medicare, you need to pay 100% of the bill – unless you have some other insurance that covers these costs. If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan (such as an HMO or PPO plan) or have Medicare supplemental insurance, you need to check your policy or consult your plan provider to find out exactly which benefits and what part of the costs are covered.
However, even if a medical service or an item you need is covered by Medicare, you will in many instances have to pay your share in form of deductibles, coinsurance, or co-payments. Most preventive services rendered by a doctor or other health care provider who accepts Medicare are covered in full, but there are also preventive services for which you may have to co-pay. Make sure you use your free “Welcome to Medicare” preventive visit that is included in your Part B benefits at no costs to you during the first 12 months after you enroll in Medicare.
Dental costs, hearing aids, cosmetic surgery, health care expenses while you travel and long term care are – among others – never covered by original Medicare.
If you don’t have additional coverage and rely solely on traditional Medicare, you must pay all costs yourself until you meet the annual Part B deductible, which is for 2024 $240, before Medicare kicks in. After your Part B deductible is met, Medicare usually pays up to 80% for a medical service or item, if it is approved by Medicare and the health care provider accepts Medicare. You have to take care of the remaining 20%, which may amount to a substantial amount of money, as there is no annual limit for your share of out-of-pocket expenses.
