Medicare's 'Part B' outpatient premium to rise by $3.90
Source: Associated Press
Medicares Part B outpatient premium to rise by $3.90
November 7, 2020
WASHINGTON (AP) Medicares Part B monthly premium for outpatient care will go up by $3.90 next year to $148.50, officials announced late Friday afternoon.
For most retirees, the health care cost increase will claim a significant slice of their Social Security cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA. It works out to nearly 20% of the average retired workers COLA of $20 a month next year.
The bite could have been deeper. It was feared that emergency actions the government took to help stabilize the health care system in the coronavirus pandemic could have triggered large premium increases. That prompted Congress to pass bipartisan legislation that limited the increase for 2021 but would gradually collect the full amount later under a repayment mechanism.
The Part B premium is set by law to cover about 25% of the cost of Medicares supplemental insurance for outpatient services. Inpatient care is covered by Medicares Part A, which is financed with payroll taxes from workers and employers.
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https://apnews.com/article/medicare-9162741328d0526806469a319abb485b