What is Medicare Part B? (2024)

While Original Medicare Part A, with its coverage for hospital visits and skilled nursing care, can help you manage the “big stuff,” that’s only part of the picture. Original Medicare Part B helps you get the care you need for a lot of the other “stuff” that requires a doctor’s care. And you can receive care from any doctor who accepts Medicare patients.

Original Medicare Part B helps cover:¹

• Medically necessary doctors’ services
• Outpatient care (even if you receive that care in a hospital)
• Chiropractic care, if medically necessary
• Home health services
• Mental health services
• Ambulance service
• Durable medical equipment, which may include crutches, walkers, hospital beds, ventilators and other equipment you may need outside of a hospital

Original Medicare Part B also helps cover a number of preventive services (if you qualify by age, gender or risk factors). These may include:

• Annual Wellness Visits
• Flu, COVID-19, hepatitis B and pneumonia vaccines
• Diabetes screenings
• Depression screenings
• Mammograms
• Colorectal cancer screenings
• Bone mass measurements
• Pap tests and pelvic exams

Medicare Part B premiums

Generally, most 2024 Medicare members must pay a monthly Part B premium of $174.70.²

Your Part B premium could be higher depending on your income. If your modified adjusted gross income from 2 years ago is above a certain amount, you’ll pay the standard premium plus what’s called an “Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount” (IRMAA). To see if this applies to you, look at your past income tax return. You’ll find your modified adjusted gross income there.

For most people, paying the premium is simple. Your Part B premium will be automatically deducted from your benefit payment if you get benefits from 1 of these:

• Social Security
• Railroad Retirement Board
• Office of Personnel Management

Medicare Part B deductibles

Like most insurance plans, Medicare Part B does have a standard deductible. In 2024, that deductible is $240. After you meet your deductible for the year, you’ll typically pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for most Part B covered services.²

Medicare Part B coinsurance

After the deductible, you’ll pay a coinsurance of 20% that will apply to:²

• Most doctor services (including most doctor services while you’re a hospital inpatient)
• Outpatient therapy
• Durable Medical Equipment (DME)
• Doctor visits to diagnose a mental health condition

Worried about Medicare costs?

Each state offers Medicare Savings Programs to Medicare beneficiaries whose income falls below a certain level. Most states also consider your assets when determining eligibility. If you qualify, these state-sponsored programs will help pay your monthly Part A or Part B Medicare premiums. These programs will not change your health plan benefits or coverage. They are provided by your state at no cost to you.

Waiting for your 65^th birthday to sign up? Good news! You have time to shop.

Your Initial Enrollment Period begins 3 months before the month of your 65^th birthday, includes your birthday month, and continues through the 3 months after the month of your 65^th birthday. That gives you 7 months to learn about Medicare and compare plans so you can make the right choice for you.

Already have a Medicare plan?

It’s good to remember that choosing a Medicare plan is not a lifetime commitment. Generally, you can join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan during these times:

• Open Enrollment Period. From Oct. 15 – Dec. 7 each year, you can join, switch or drop a plan. Your coverage will begin on Jan. 1 (as long as the plan gets your request by Dec. 7).
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period. From Jan. 1 – March 31 each year, if you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan or switch to Original Medicare.
• Special Enrollment Period. You can make changes to your Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug coverage when certain events happen in your life, like if you move or you lose other insurance coverage.

Avoid a Medicare Part B late enrollment penalty. If you don’t enroll in Medicare Part B as soon as you’re eligible—and you don’t have other “creditable coverage,”—you could be assessed a late enrollment penalty when you do enroll. The penalty could be as high as a 10% increase in your premium for each 12-month period that you were eligible but not enrolled.

You can delay enrolling in Medicare Part B—with no penalty—if you’re working and already covered by your employer’s private health insurance. After your employment health coverage ends, you have 8 months to sign up for Part B without a late penalty.

1. “What Part B covers,” Medicare.gov, last accessed November 16, 2023.
2. “Costs,” Medicare.gov, last accessed November 16, 2023.