Medicare Premiums

Medicare premiums are monthly fees beneficiaries pay for their Medicare coverage. In 2024, the Medicare Part B standard premium is $174.70 a month. Most people do not pay premiums for Medicare Part A, while premiums for Medicare Part D drug coverage, Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans vary.

  • Written by
    Lindsey Crossmier

    Lindsey Crossmier

    Financial Writer

    Lindsey Crossmier is an accomplished writer with experience working for The Florida Review and Bookstar PR. As a financial writer, she covers Medicare, life insurance and dental insurance topics for RetireGuide. Research-based data drives her work.

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  • Edited By
    Lamia Chowdhury
    Lamia Chowdhury, editor for RetireGuide.com

    Lamia Chowdhury

    Financial Editor

    Lamia Chowdhury is a financial content editor for RetireGuide and has over three years of marketing experience in the finance industry. She has written copy for both digital and print pieces ranging from blogs, radio scripts and search ads to billboards, brochures, mailers and more.

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  • Reviewed By
    Michael Jones
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    Michael Jones

    Medicare Expert and Owner of Grand Anchor Insurance Solutions

    Michael Jones is a licensed insurance agent who manages his own agency called Grand Anchor Insurance Solutions. In addition to being a Medicare expert, Michael specializes in other insurance products such as voluntary benefits for employees of businesses.

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  • Published: May 14, 2020
  • Updated: November 8, 2023
  • 7 min read time
  • This page features 20 Cited Research Articles
Fact Checked
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A licensed insurance professional reviewed this page for accuracy and compliance with the CMS Medicare Communications and Marketing Guidelines (MCMGs) and Medicare Advantage (MA/MAPD) and/or Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (PDP) carriers’ guidelines.

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How to Cite RetireGuide.com's Article

APA Crossmier, L. (2023, November 8). Medicare Premiums. RetireGuide.com. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://www.retireguide.com/medicare/costs-and-coverage/premiums/

MLA Crossmier, Lindsey. "Medicare Premiums." RetireGuide.com, 8 Nov 2023, https://www.retireguide.com/medicare/costs-and-coverage/premiums/.

Chicago Crossmier, Lindsey. "Medicare Premiums." RetireGuide.com. Last modified November 8, 2023. https://www.retireguide.com/medicare/costs-and-coverage/premiums/.

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Key Takeaways
  • Medicare premiums are the monthly fees you pay for coverage once you enroll in Medicare.
  • Most people don’t pay premiums for Medicare Part A hospital insurance, while Medicare Part B medical insurance premiums cost $174.70 in 2024 — or more if you have a higher income.
  • Medicare Advantage plan premiums vary widely and are based on your plan, though some charge $0 in monthly premiums.
  • Medicare Part D prescription drug premiums can also vary widely depending on your plan.

2024 Premiums for Original Medicare

The 2024 premiums were announced on October 12, 2023. The Part B premium increased by $9.80 to $174.70. While most don’t pay a Part A premium, the potential cost stayed relatively the same for 2024, decreasing by one dollar.

Original Medicare includes Medicare Part A hospital insurance and Part B medical insurance. The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services adjust the premiums for the following year in the fall.

Did You Know?
Medicare Easy Pay is a free electronic payment option that can help you pay your Original Medicare premium quickly and conveniently.

Medicare Part A Premium in 2024

The Part A premium will cost $0 for most people in 2024. Part A is usually free if you or your spouse have been contributing to the Part A Trust Fund for about 40 quarters, or 10 years of work. The Part A Trust Fund is the FICA deduction from your paycheck.

You don’t have to pay a Part A premium if you:
  • Qualify or already have retirement or disability benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board
  • Get Medicare earlier than age 65
  • If you or your former or current spouse paid Medicare taxes while working 10+ years

However, if you didn’t work long enough, you might have to pay a full or reduced Part A premium.

2024 Potential Part A Premium Costs
Individuals with less than 30 quarters of coverage, or individuals with disabilities who have exhausted other entitlementsFull Part A Premium of $505
Individuals with at least 30 quarters of coverage (or your current or ex-spouse as 30 quarters of coverage)Reduced Part A Premium of $278

If you have concerns paying for the Part A premium, you could look into the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary program (QMB), one of the Medicare Savings Programs. If you qualify, QMB will cover the Part A premium, along with other potential benefits.

Have you selected your 2024 Medicare plan?
Maximize your Medicare savings by connecting with a licensed insurance agent. Annual Enrollment is open until December 7th.

Medicare Part B Premium in 2024

The Medicare Part B standard premium increased in 2024 to $174.70 from $164.90.

People with higher incomes may have to pay a higher Part B premium. Your modified adjusted gross income, marital status and how you file your taxes all influence your Part B premium cost.

For example, if you’re filing an individual tax return and your salary is $110,000 — your Part B premium would be $244.60.

If you’re married, filing a joint tax return and your salaries are over $260,000 — your Part B premium would be $349.40.

2024 Medicare Part B Premiums
Filed an Individual Tax ReturnFiled a Joint Tax ReturnMedicare Part B Premium
$103,000 or less$206,000 or less$174.70
More than $103,000 up to $129,000More than $206,000 up to $258,000$244.60
More than $129,000 up to $161,000More than $206,000 up to $322,000$349.40
More than $161,000 up to $193,000More than $322,000 up to $386,000$454.20
More than $193,000 but less than $500,000More than $386,000 but less than $750,000$559.00
$500,000 or above$750,000 or above$594.00

If you had a major life changing event in the two years since your last tax return, such as a change in your marital status, losing a job or loss of pension or income-producing property, you can request the Social Security Administration to adjust your premium.

Medicare Advantage Premiums in 2024

The projected average Medicare Advantage premium is $18.50 for 2024, according to CMS. Your premium price will fluctuate depending on the plan you choose and where you live. For the most part, plans with cheaper premiums may offer far fewer benefits than those with more expensive premiums.

Be sure to compare plans to get the coverage you want or need at a price you can afford.

Medicare Advantage Plans in Your State
You can check out average prices and the number of plans available in your state with state-by-state fact sheets at the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services website.

CMS predicts that Medicare Advantage enrollment will reach 33.8 million in 2023. In addition to Medicare Advantage enrollment, plan choices and benefits are projected to increase.
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Medicare Part D Premiums in 2024

The 2024 Part D premium varies by plan and coverage. In 2024, the national base beneficiary premium — which is the average Part D premium cost — is $34.70.

Remember, Part D prescription drug coverage is optional with Original Medicare. If you don’t opt into a plan, you aren’t responsible for paying the premium.

Most people only pay the monthly premium, which is set by their provider, for Medicare Part D coverage. But people with higher incomes also have to pay an additional fee based on their income reported to the Internal Revenue Service. For 2024, that would most likely be based on their 2023 income.

2023 Medicare Part D Premiums (Based on 2022 Tax Return)
Filed an Individual Tax ReturnFiled a Joint Tax ReturnMarried Filing Separately Tax ReturnYour Monthly Premium in 2023
$103,000 or less $206,000 or less$103,000 or lessYour plan premium
More than $103,000 up to $129,000Above $206,000 up to $258,000N/A$12.90 + your plan premium
More than $129,000 up to $161,000Above $258,000 up to $322,000N/A$33.30 + your plan premium
More than $161,000 up to $193,000Above $322,000 up to $386,000N/A$53.80 + your plan premium
More than $193,000 but less than $500,000Above $386,000 but less than $750,000More than $103,000 but less than $397,000$74.20 + your plan premium
$500,000 or above$750,000 or above$397,000 or above$81.00 + your plan premium

The extra amount you pay is not part of your plan premium and you do not pay it to your Medicare Part D insurer.

In most cases, the extra amount will be held out of your Social Security check. If it isn’t withheld, you’ll get a bill from either the Social Security Administration or the Railroad Retirement Board.

You also have to pay the extra fee if you are in a Medicare Advantage plan that includes prescription drug coverage.

If you don’t pay the extra fee, you can lose your Medicare Part D coverage.

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Medigap Premiums in 2024

Your Medigap premiums in 2024 vary. They depend on the plan you choose, where you live and when you purchase a policy. If you have Original Medicare, you can purchase a Medigap policy to help cover some of the Part A and B premiums. You cannot get a Medigap Policy if you have Medicare Advantage.

To get the best premium price, consider buying a Medigap policy within the six-month window that starts the first month you have Medicare Plan B. During this period, all Medigap polices are priced the same, even if you’re in poor health. After the six-month window closes, companies can raise Medigap premiums if you have health problems.

Where you live also affects your Medigap premiums. The table below shows costs for different Medigap plans for a 50-year-old woman who doesn’t smoke in Florida.

Medigap Plan TypePremium Cost
Plan A$358 - $972
Plan B$470 - $835
Plan C$663 - $968
Plan D$651 - $823
Plan F$549 - $1,449
Plan F (High Deductible)$201 - $546
Plan G$533 - $1,059
Plan G (High Deductible)$171 - $678
Plan K$254 - $366
Plan L$426 - $580
Plan M$639 - $639
Plan N$433 - $794

Frequently Asked Questions About Medicare Premiums

Are Medicare premiums based on income? At what income level do premiums increase?
Medicare Part B premiums and Medicare Part D prescription drug premiums are based, in part, on your annual income and tax filing status. The cost of these premiums is adjusted each year according to the Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA).
Can Medicare unenroll you for not paying premiums?
A Medicare plan can not disenroll a beneficiary for failing to pay monthly premiums if those premiums are automatically deducted from their Social Security payments. But it can disenroll you if it finds out the deduction from Social Security has stopped or if the request for the premium deduction was initially rejected. In the latter case, the plan can bill the member for their premiums until the Social Security deduction starts.
How can you reduce your Medicare premiums?
Everyone has to pay Medicare Part B premiums in Original Medicare, but some Medicare Advantage plans offer premium reductions. The plans, offered by private insurers, pay some or all of the Part B premium, leaving you with reduced or even $0 monthly Medicare premiums.
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Last Modified: November 8, 2023

20 Cited Research Articles

  1. National Council on Aging. (2023, October 13). What You'll Pay in Out-of-Pocket Medicare Costs in 2024. Retrieved from https://www.ncoa.org/article/what-you-will-pay-in-out-of-pocket-medicare-costs-in-2024
  2. U.S. Centers for U.S. Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2023, October 12). 2024 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2024-medicare-parts-b-premiums-and-deductibles
  3. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2023, September 26). Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Programs to Remain Stable in 2024. Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/medicare-advantage-and-medicare-prescription-drug-programs-remain-stable-2024?wpisrc=nl_health202
  4. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2023, July 31). Center for Medicare. Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/files/document/july-31-2023-parts-c-d-announcement-pdf.pdf
  5. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2023, July 31). Yearly Deductible for Drug Plans. Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/cms-releases-2024-projected-medicare-part-d-premium-and-bid-information
  6. Medicare.gov. (2023). Catastrophic coverage. Retrieved from https://www.medicare.gov/drug-coverage-part-d/costs-for-medicare-drug-coverage/catastrophic-coverage
  7. Medicare.gov. (2023). Costs in the Coverage Gap. Retrieved from https://www.medicare.gov/drug-coverage-part-d/costs-for-medicare-drug-coverage/costs-in-the-coverage-gap
  8. Medicare.gov. (2023). Costs of Medigap Policies. Retrieved from https://www.medicare.gov/costs-of-medigap-policies
  9. Medicare.gov. (2023). Monthly Premium for Drug Plans. https://www.medicare.gov/drug-coverage-part-d/costs-for-medicare-drug-coverage/monthly-premium-for-drug-plans
  10. Medicare.gov. (2023). Supplement Insurance (Medigap) Plans in Florida. Retrieved from https://www.medicare.gov/supplements-other-insurance/whats-medicare-supplement-insurance-medigap/medigap-costs/costs-of-medigap-policies
  11. National Council on Aging. (2022, October 24). Medicare Parts A and B Costs. Retrieved from https://www.ncoa.org/article/medicare-parts-a-and-b-costs
  12. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2022, September 29). Biden-Harris Administration Announces Lower Premiums for Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans in 2023. Retrieved from https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2022/09/29/biden-harris-administration-announces-lower-premiums-for-medicare-advantage-and-prescription-drug-plans-in-2023.html
  13. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2022, September 29). Fact Sheet. Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/files/document/2023-medicare-advantage-and-part-d-state-state-fact-sheets.pdf
  14. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2022, September 27). 2023 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles 2023 Medicare Part D Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts. Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2023-medicare-parts-b-premiums-and-deductibles-2023-medicare-part-d-income-related-monthly
  15. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2022, July 29). CMS Releases 2023 Projected Medicare Basic Part D Average Premium. Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/news-alert/cms-releases-2023-projected-medicare-basic-part-d-average-premium
  16. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2022). Avoid Late Enrollment Penalties. Retrieved from https://www.medicare.gov/basics/costs/medicare-costs/avoid-penalties
  17. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2022). Find a Medigap Policy That Works for You. Retrieved from https://www.medicare.gov/medigap-supplemental-insurance-plans/
  18. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2022). Monthly Premium for Drug Plans. Retrieved from https://www.medicare.gov/drug-coverage-part-d/costs-for-medicare-drug-coverage/monthly-premium-for-drug-plans
  19. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2022). Part D Late Enrollment Penalty. Retrieved from https://www.medicare.gov/drug-coverage-part-d/costs-for-medicare-drug-coverage/part-d-late-enrollment-penalty
  20. Biogen. (2021, December 20). Biogen Announces Reduced Price for ADUHELM® to Improve Access for Patients with Early Alzheimer’s Disease. Retrieved from https://investors.biogen.com/news-releases/news-release-details/biogen-announces-reduced-price-aduhelmr-improve-access-patients