Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) helps cover doctors’ services and outpatient care. It also covers some other medical services that Part A doesn’t cover, such as some of the services of physical and occupational therapists, and some home health care. Part B helps pay for these covered services and supplies when they are medically necessary.

Cost: The Medicare Part B premium each month ($78.20 per month in 2005). In some cases, this amount may be higher if the beneficiary didn’t sign up for Part B when they first became eligible.

Caution: If the beneficiary didn’t take Part B when they were first eligible, the cost of Part B will go up 10% for each full 12-month period that they could have had Part B but didn’t sign up for it, except in special cases. They will have to pay this penalty as long as they have Part B.

They also pay a Part B deductible each year before Medicare starts to pay its share. The Part B deductible for 2005 is $110.00. The beneficiary may be able to get help from their state to pay this premium and deductible.

Medicare deductible and premium rates may change every year in January.

Downloads
There are no Downloads
Related Links Inside CMS
Related Links Outside CMS
There are no Related Links Outside CMS

Page Last Modified: 12/14/2005 12:00:00 AM
Help with File Formats and Plug-Ins