Seniors

question everything

(49,084 posts) Tue Dec 13, 2016, 02:39 PM Dec 2016

Creative accounting for Medicare Part B premiums

Yes, I've heard about the 0.3% increase of SS benefits. Right. A whooping $4 a month. But what surprised me, my spouse already got the benefit schedule for 2017 and the Medicare premium is not "an average of $109" as it is said in the Medicare page.

https://www.medicare.gov/your-medicare-costs/part-b-costs/part-b-costs.html

No, it is calculated so that the net benefit is the same as it is in 2016. Thus, each one of us - at least if we get Medicare premiums deducted from our SS benefits - will pay a different premium.

4 replies

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Creative accounting for Medicare Part B premiums (Original Post) question everything Dec 2016 OP

thanks for the info lillypaddle Dec 2016 #1

My soc. Sec. check will be 1.00 less than last year dixiegrrrrl Dec 2016 #2

This is strange question everything Dec 2016 #3

Fact is whatever the 0.3% raise one receives is going to be paid to Medicare premium, in other words Thinkingabout Dec 2016 #4

lillypaddle

(9,605 posts)

1. thanks for the info

Reply to question everything (Original post)

Tue Dec 13, 2016, 03:56 PM

Dec 2016

I gather that means a range of 3 - 5 bucks. Oh my, what will I do with all of that?

dixiegrrrrl

(60,011 posts)

2. My soc. Sec. check will be 1.00 less than last year

Reply to question everything (Original post)

Tue Dec 13, 2016, 05:12 PM

Dec 2016

which was 1.00 less than the year before.
Because of Medicare premium.

I am going backwards.

question everything

(49,084 posts)

3. This is strange

Reply to dixiegrrrrl (Reply #2)

Tue Dec 13, 2016, 06:11 PM

Dec 2016

Did you call and ask?

Don't call the main SS number, you will have a wait time of 40 minutes!

Find out the number of your local branch. This is what I did and got an immediate response.

Last year nothing was changed, or was not supposed to have changed because there was no COLA and if SS does not rise, neither should Medicare premium. I think it is called "do no harm."

Or, call your member of congress, even if a rabid republican and try to get some help in how you should approach this. Even 1.00 - it is the principle.

Thinkingabout

(30,058 posts)

4. Fact is whatever the 0.3% raise one receives is going to be paid to Medicare premium, in other words

Reply to question everything (Original post)

Wed Dec 14, 2016, 09:27 PM

Dec 2016

there will not be a raise in the checks of Medicare premium payees. There will be different amounts being paid, it will be interesting.

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