Medicare Part B Premiums in 2011

For the majority of Medicare enrollees, the basic 2011 monthly premium for Part B remains at $96.40 (the same since 2008). The law prevents a hike in the Part B premiums for Social Security recipients who have not had their benefits increased (called the “hold-harmless” rule); there have been no increases in Social Security benefits for the past 2 years). About 27% of Medicare enrollees, however, are not protected by the hold-harmless rule because they are new enrollees, are subject to the Part B additional premium amount, or have their premiums paid by Medicaid. For them, the monthly premium in 2011 will be $115.40.

In 2011, high-income enrollees will pay up to $369.10 per month in Part B premiums; in 2010, the ceiling on Part B premiums is $353.60. The higher Part B premiums in 2011 are based on an enrollee’s adjusted gross income (AGI) in 2009. A single person with AGI over $85,000 and a joint filer with AGI over $170,000 will be subject to a monthly premium higher than the basic amount. The premium scales up and reaches the maximum when AGI tops $214,000 for a single filer and $428,000 for a joint filer.

Source: Fact Sheet, CMS 11/5/10