Medicare Part B

Medicare Part B is part of Original Medicare. It covers medically necessary care and preventative services. This includes doctor visits, outpatient care, cancer screenings, medical equipment and more. The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B is $174.70 in 2024.

Christian Simmons, writer and researcher for RetireGuide
  • Written by
    Christian Simmons

    Christian Simmons

    Financial Writer

    Christian Simmons is a writer for RetireGuide and a member of the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education (AFCPE®). He covers Medicare and important retirement topics. Christian is a former winner of a Florida Society of News Editors journalism contest and has written professionally since 2016.

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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: April 27, 2020
  • Updated: October 23, 2023
  • 4 min read time
  • This page features 11 Cited Research Articles
Fact Checked
Fact Checked

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 Simmons, C. (2023, October 23). Medicare Part B. RetireGuide.com. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://www.retireguide.com/medicare/original-medicare/part-b/

MLA Simmons, Christian. "Medicare Part B." RetireGuide.com, 23 Oct 2023, https://www.retireguide.com/medicare/original-medicare/part-b/.

Chicago Simmons, Christian. "Medicare Part B." RetireGuide.com. Last modified October 23, 2023. https://www.retireguide.com/medicare/original-medicare/part-b/.

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Key Takeaways
  • Medicare Part B is the part of Original Medicare that handles outpatient treatments, services and medically necessary care.
  • Part B also covers preventive care including screenings and lab tests, as well as mental health and medical equipment.
  • Most Americans are eligible for Part B when they turn 65. Unlike Part A, Part B comes with a monthly premium.

What Does Medicare Part B Cover?

As the medical insurance component of Original Medicare, Part B covers two main categories:
  1. Medically Necessary Services: Doctor visits and anything needed to diagnose or treat a medical condition.
  2. Preventative Care: Services and screenings to prevent illness or provide early detection.
Types of Medically Necessary Services
  • Ambulance transportation
  • Medical equipment
  • Mental health
  • Limited outpatient prescription drugs
  • Clinical research
  • Lab tests
Types of Preventative Care Services
  • Disease screenings
  • Cancer screenings
  • Diabetes self-management training
  • Glaucoma tests
  • Mental health screenings
  • Nutrition therapy services
  • One-time Welcome to Medicare preventive visit
  • Shots
  • Tobacco use cessation counseling
  • Yearly wellness visit

Annual wellness visits are a way to monitor your health and may include a cognitive impairment assessment to screen for Alzheimer’s Disease.

The Part B deductible doesn’t apply for yearly wellness visits or most preventive services.

Paying for Part B may be something you want to start preparing for early. The standard Part B payment is $164.90, but depending on your income, you may be responsible to pay over $575 each month.
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Medicare Part B Enrollment & Eligibility

Most Americans are eligible for Medicare Part B when they turn 65. Some people can get Part B at a younger age if they have certain disabilities, like end-stage renal disease or ALS.

How to Sign Up for Medicare Part B

If you are already receiving Social Security when you turn 65, then you should be automatically enrolled in Part B. If not, you need to sign up with Social Security when you first become eligible.

You can sign up at the Social Security website or by calling 800-772-1213.

Important Medicare Deadlines

If you are new to Medicare, you will first become eligible to enroll three months before the month of your 65th birthday. This period ends three months after it, creating a seven-month window to enroll.

If you don’t enroll during this window, you may be penalized by having to pay a higher Part B premium when you do enroll.

If you missed your initial enrollment period, you can then enroll during the General Enrollment Period. It lasts from Jan. 1 to March 31 each year, with your Medicare coverage starting on July 1. Remember that you may face a late enrollment penalty if you didn’t sign up for Medicare when first eligible.

Costs & Deductibles for Medicare Part B in 2024

You pay a monthly premium, or fee, for Part B coverage. Your premium is automatically deducted from your benefit payment if you receive Social Security. Otherwise, you’ll receive a bill.

The standard Part B premium amount is $174.70 for 2024. Your cost may be higher if your adjusted gross income as reported on your individual IRS tax return from two years ago is above $103,000.

You must pay your Part B premium every month even if you don’t use it.

Medicare Part B Costs
  • Standard Premium: $174.70
  • Deductible: $240
  • Coinsurance: 20% after deductible is met

What Does Medicare Part B Not Cover?

Medicare Part B can cover many treatments and services if they are deemed medically necessary.

Anything that is not considered a medical necessity, such as cosmetic and non-medical procedures, will likely not be covered. Treatments that are not strictly related to health like massages or acupuncture are also not covered.

What Does Part B Not Cover?
  • Acupuncture
  • Cosmetic surgery
  • Dental care
  • Dentures
  • Hearing aids
  • Routine foot care

Part B also does not cover several key areas of health for older adults such as hearing, vision and dental. Coverage for these services is typically only available through a Medicare Advantage plan, which is provided by private insurers.

Frequently Asked Questions About Medicare Part B

How long does it take to get Medicare Part B after applying?
If you have just turned 65, then your Part B coverage should start the month that you sign up. If you sign up a month after you turn 65, then your coverage will start two months later. Your coverage begins when you turn 65 if you sign up before your birthday. You should receive your Medicare card within a month of applying.
Is Medicare Part B ever free?
You always have to pay for the Part B monthly premium. This is unlike Part A, which is premium-free for most Americans if they meet certain requirements.
What is the income limit for Medicare Part B?
The income limit for Part B is an individual tax return of $103,000 or less or a joint tax return of $206,000 or less. If your individual or joint income exceeds those amounts, then you will pay a higher monthly premium for Part B.
Last Modified: October 23, 2023

11 Cited Research Articles

  1. U.S. Centers for 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
  2. U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2022). When Can I Sign Up for Medicare? Retrieved from https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/sign-up/when-can-i-sign-up-for-medicare
  3. U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2022). What Part B Covers. Retrieved from https://www.medicare.gov/what-medicare-covers/what-part-b-covers
  4. U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2022). When Can I Buy Medigap? Retrieved from https://www.medicare.gov/supplements-other-insurance/when-can-i-buy-medigap
  5. U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2022). Yearly Wellness Visits. Retrieved from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/yearly-wellness-visits
  6. U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2020, November 6). 2021 Medicare Parts A and B Premiums and Deductibles. Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2021-medicare-parts-b-premiums-and-deductibles
  7. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2019, August 8). VA Health Care and Other Insurance. Retrieved from https://www.va.gov/health-care/about-va-health-benefits/va-health-care-and-other-insurance/
  8. Social Security. (n.d.). How to Apply Online for Just Medicare. Retrieved from https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/medicare/
  9. U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Fact Sheet: Deciding Whether to Enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B When You Turn 65. Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Find-Your-Provider-Type/Employers-and-Unions/FS3-Enroll-in-Part-A-and-B.pdf
  10. U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicare Part B Coverage: Preventative screening services. Retrieved from https://edit.medicare.gov/coverage/preventive-screening-services
  11. U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Part B Late Enrollment Penalty. Retrieved from https://www.medicare.gov/basics/costs/medicare-costs/avoid-penalties