2010 Medicare Rates
2010 Medicare premiums, deductibles, and copayments.
By: AARP Education & Outreach | Source: AARP.org | November 2009
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Each year Medicare sets how much you pay for its premiums, deductibles, and co-payments. Here are the rates for 2010:
Part A Premiums
Most people do not pay for Part A (hospital coverage) because they paid Medicare taxes for 40+ quarters while working. Those with 30 to 39 quarters of covered employment can buy Part A coverage. It costs $254 a month. Those who have less than 30 quarters of covered employment will have to pay $461 to receive Part A coverage.
Part B Premiums
Most people on Medicare will not see a Part B monthly premium increase as a result of a "hold harmless" provision in the current law. This allows most people on Medicare to be protected from any increase in their premiums for 2010. What this means is that for 2010, most people on Medicare will pay $96.40 a month for Part B (physician) coverage. However, some people, including those newly enrolled in 2010, will pay $110.50. Higher–income people will pay even more.
| Tax Return Income (Individual) |
Joint Tax Return Income (Married Couples) |
2010 Monthly Part B Premium |
||
| Up to $85,000 "held harmless" |
Up to $170,000 |
$96.40 |
||
| Up to $85,000 not "held harmless" |
Up to $170,000 |
$110.50 |
||
| $85,001 to $107,000 |
$170,001 to $214,000 |
$154.70 |
||
| $107,001 to $160,000 |
$214,001 to $320,000 |
$221.00 |
||
| $160,001 to $214,000 |
$320,001 to $428,000 |
$287.30 |
||
| Over $ 214,000 |
Over $428,000 |
$353.60 |
If you’re on Medicare before January 1, 2010, you’ll be told at the end of 2009 about your 2010 premium, as well as any related changes in your Social Security benefits. If you enroll after the first of the year, you’ll hear shortly after enrolling if you have to pay the higher rate.
Deductibles and Co-payments
Part A Deductible: The 2010 Part A deductible is $1,100 per illness, up $32 from 2009.
Part B Deductible: The 2010 Part B deductible is $155, up $20 from 2009.
Part A Co-payments: The Part A deductible covers the first 60 days of a Medicare-covered hospital stay. Then you pay $275 a day for days 61 through 90. After the 90th day, your co-pay for lifetime reserve days is $550 a day.
For more information call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 or visit www.medicare.gov on the Web.
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