Haris Ashley
Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) are available to individuals who meet certain criteria. Medicare Part B premiums are typically deducted from Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) benefits, but if an individual does not receive these benefits, they must pay their premium manually. If an individual misses a premium payment, their next bill will include a past-due amount.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Medicare Part A | Hospital Insurance |
| Medicare Part B | Medical Insurance |
| Medicare Part B Premium | $185 (standard 2025 premium) |
| Medicare Part C | Medicare Advantage |
| Medicare Part D | Prescription Drug Coverage |
| Medicare Premium Payment Methods | Check, money order, credit card, debit card, or Health Savings Account (HSA) card |
| Medicare Premium Payment Options | Online, mail, or automatic bill pay |
| Medicare Premium Due Date | 25th of the month |
| Medicare Premium Coverage | Inpatient hospital services, care in skilled nursing facilities, home health services, and hospice care |
| Medicare Premium Assistance | Available for low-income individuals through state programs or Extra Help |
| Social Security and Medicare | Social Security benefits may be used to pay for Medicare premiums |
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What You'll Learn
Medicare Part A and Part B premiums
Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, hospice, inpatient rehabilitation, and some home health care services. About 99% of Medicare beneficiaries do not have a Part A premium since they have at least 40 quarters of Medicare-covered employment, as determined by the Social Security Administration. However, some individuals have to pay a premium for this coverage. To be eligible for premium-free Part A, an individual must be entitled to receive Medicare based on their own earnings or those of a spouse, parent, or child.
Medicare Part B covers physicians' services, outpatient hospital services, certain home health services, durable medical equipment, and certain other medical and health services not covered by Medicare Part A. For most beneficiaries, the government pays about 75% of the Part B premium, and the beneficiary pays the remaining 25%. The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B enrollees was $164.90 in 2023 and will be $174.70 in 2024.
Most people get their Medicare Part B premium deducted automatically from their Social Security benefit payment. If you don't get benefits from Social Security, you'll receive a premium bill from Medicare. You can pay your Medicare premium using a variety of methods, including by check, money order, credit card, debit card, or Health Savings Account (HSA) card.
If you have limited income and resources, you may be able to get help from your state to pay your premiums and other costs, like deductibles, coinsurance, and copays. If you have Medicare prescription drug coverage, you'll pay monthly premiums plus an additional amount if you're a higher-income beneficiary.
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Late payments and delinquent bills
When an individual misses a payment or makes a late payment, the past-due amount is added to their next bill. This results in a delinquent bill, indicating that the individual is at risk of losing their Medicare coverage if they fail to pay the total amount by the new due date. It is important to note that before an individual's insurance coverage is terminated, they will typically receive multiple notices of late payment and be provided with opportunities to rectify the situation.
To avoid late payments, individuals can opt for automatic payments by setting up recurring debit or credit card transactions. This ensures that payments are made on time and helps prevent accidental delinquency. Additionally, individuals can explore other payment methods, such as paying directly through their Medicare account using a credit card, debit card, health savings account (HSA), or bank account.
In cases where individuals are facing financial challenges and are unable to make timely payments, they may be eligible for financial assistance. They can explore options such as state aid or adjustments based on income-related criteria. It is recommended to contact the Social Security Administration or Medicare directly to discuss payment issues and explore potential solutions.
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Payment methods
Medicare premiums are typically deducted automatically from Social Security benefit payments. However, if you do not receive Social Security benefits, you will receive a premium bill from Medicare. Here are some payment methods for Medicare premiums if you do not receive Social Security:
Online
You can pay your Medicare premium online through your bank's online bill payment service. You can also pay directly from your savings or checking account.
By Mail
You can mail a check, money order, or credit/debit card information to the Medicare Premium Collection Center. Be sure to include the payment coupon at the bottom of your bill and use the return envelope that came with your bill. Payments made by mail may take longer to process than online payments.
Phone
You can call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for more information on payment methods.
Medicare Savings Programs
If you have a low income and limited financial assets, you may qualify for Medicare Savings Programs that can help with Part B premiums. These programs are federally funded but run by individual states. You can contact your local Social Security Administration office or State Health Insurance Assistance Program for more information.
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Income-related monthly adjustment amounts
Medicare Part B (medical insurance) premiums are typically deducted from Social Security benefit payments. If you don't receive Social Security benefits, you will receive a premium bill from Medicare. The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B enrollees was $185.00 for 2025, an increase of $10.30 from 2024.
If you are a higher-income beneficiary, you will pay a larger percentage of the total cost of Part B based on the income you report to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This additional amount is called the "income-related monthly adjustment amount" or IRMAA. The higher your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), the bigger your monthly premiums for Part B and Part D. The IRMAA surcharge is added on top of your standard Medicare monthly premiums for Part B insurance and Part D insurance, which covers prescription drugs.
If your income has decreased, you may request a reduction in your income-related monthly adjustment amount using Form SSA-44. If you disagree with the decision made about your income-related monthly adjustment amount, you can appeal the decision online or in writing.
Medicare premiums can jump sharply if your retirement income rises above certain levels. To avoid surprises, it is important to carefully track your out-of-pocket medical expenses and plan ahead.
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Medicare coverage and eligibility
Medicare is health insurance for people aged 65 or older. However, you may be eligible for Medicare earlier if you have a disability, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease).
Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) are available to individuals as described below. Most people get Part A for free, but some have to pay a premium for this coverage. To be eligible for premium-free Part A, an individual must be entitled to receive Medicare based on their own earnings or those of a spouse, parent, or child. To receive premium-free Part A, the worker must have a specified number of quarters of coverage (QCs) and file an application for Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) benefits. The exact number of QCs required depends on whether the person is filing for Part A based on age, disability, or End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).
Individuals who are already receiving Social Security or RRB benefits at least four months before becoming eligible for Medicare and residing in the United States (except Puerto Rico) are automatically enrolled in both premium-free Part A and Part B. People who are automatically enrolled have the option to refuse Part B coverage. People living in Puerto Rico who are eligible for automatic enrolment are only enrolled in premium-free Part A; they must actively enrol in Part B to receive this coverage. Individuals who are not receiving Social Security or RRB benefits are not automatically enrolled.
If you qualify for premium-free Part A, your coverage starts the month you turn 65. If your birthday is on the first of the month, coverage starts the month before you turn 65. Part B and premium-part A coverage starts based on the month you sign up. You can sign up for Part A at any time after turning 65. Your Part A coverage starts six months before you sign up or when you apply for benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board. Coverage cannot start earlier than the month you turn 65. After your Initial Enrollment Period, you can only sign up for Part B and premium-Part A during one of the other enrollment periods, which is between January 1 and March 31 each year. This is called the General Enrollment Period. Your coverage starts the month after you sign up, and you might pay a monthly late enrollment penalty if you don't qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
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Frequently asked questions
A past due medical insurance premium is a premium payment that was not paid by the due date.
You can pay your past due premium using a check, money order, credit card, debit card, or Health Savings Account (HSA) card. You can also pay directly from your savings or checking account through your bank's online bill payment service.
Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) are available to individuals based on their age, disability, or End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). Most people get Part A for free, but some have to pay a premium. For Part B, most beneficiaries pay 25% of the premium, while the government pays the remaining 75%.
You can set up automatic bill payments through your bank's online bill payment service or by enrolling in Medicare and having your premiums automatically deducted from your Social Security benefit payments.
