What You Need to Know About Medicare Part B
Medicare Part B provides coverage for medically necessary and preventative services.
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If you or a loved one is preparing to enroll in Medicare Part B, know that signing up doesn’t have to be complicated if you’re armed with the right information and resources. This guide will fill you in on the sign-up process, provide the latest costs, and go over what Medicare Part B covers (and what it doesn’t). Let’s get started!
Anyone who is eligible for Medicare Part A can enroll in Medicare Part B, which covers medically necessary outpatient and preventive care. In most circumstances, you are enrolled in Medicare Part A when you reach age 65 and enroll in Part B at the same time. If you’re still planning for retirement, you may wait to enroll in Medicare Part B when you are no longer going to be covered by employer insurance. Keep a close eye on your open enrollment dates, as there is a late enrollment penalty for Part B!
The following information is applicable to most Medicare enrollees. However, there are special circumstances that affect how and when Medicare begins for a recipient. These circumstances could include receiving disability benefits from Social Security or the RailRoad Retirement Board.1 (RRB) for at least 25 months, receiving disability benefits for ALS, or End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).
If this is the year you or a loved one turn 65, a Medicare & You handbook will arrive by mail. This is the official, annual Medicare handbook that is sent every September to every Medicare household ahead of the October annual enrollment period. This handbook summarizes your benefits and rights under Medicare, identifies the changes that will take place in January of the following year, and provides official definitions for many important terms that you will need to understand. You can access the current year’s handbook electronically at any time by logging into your Medicare account.
The following information is applicable to most Medicare enrollees. However, there are special circumstances that affect how and when Medicare begins for a recipient. These circumstances could include receiving disability benefits from Social Security or the RailRoad Retirement Board.1 (RRB) for at least 25 months, receiving disability benefits for ALS, or have End-Stage Renal Failure (ESRD).
Original Medicare consists of two parts:
- Part A (Hospital Insurance)
- Part B (Medical Insurance)
What Is Medicare Part B, and What Does It Cover?
Medicare Part B covers two types of services, medically necessary and preventative.
- Medically necessary: Services or supplies that are needed to diagnose and treat medical conditions that meet accepted standards of medical practice.
- Preventative: Service to help prevent illness or detect it at an early stage when treatment is more likely to perform well.
This would include your primary care doctor and most specialists’ office visits. Other things such as clinical research, ambulance services, mental health services, limited outpatient prescription drugs, outpatient care, home health services, durable medical equipment (DME), and other preventive services are covered under Part B.2
Part B also covers:
- Screening mammograms to check for breast cancer
- Comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation (when certain conditions are met)
- Colorectal cancer screenings
- Diabetes screening (if your doctor determines a risk)
- Chemotherapy
- CPAP
- Advance care planning
- Chronic care management services
Part B does not cover:
- Eye exams related to prescription glasses or contacts
- Dentures and most dental care
- Hearing aids and exams for fitting them
- Cosmetic surgery
- Long-term care
- Most prescription medications
- Routine podiatry care
- Massage therapy
- Routine physical exams
- Concierge care
Pro Tip: Don’t miss out on your hard-earned benefits! Our Medicare enrollment guide is a one-stop shop for all of your Medicare questions.
What Is the Cost of Medicare Part B?
Medicare Part B recipients must pay a standard monthly premium, meet their annual deductible, and pay a coinsurance for services rendered.3
Medicare Part B Costs for 2024
| Expense type | Out-of-pocket cost | Additional details |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly premium | The standard Medicare Part B monthly premium for 2024 is $174.70. | If you receive Social Security or RRB benefits, your premium will be automatically deducted. |
| Annual deductible | The standard Medicare Part B annual deductible for 2024 is $240. | You must pay your annual deductible before Medicare Part B begins to pay for services. |
| Coinsurance | Part B enrollees pay approximately 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount for all Part B services (after the annual deductible has been met). | Coinsurance, also known as cost sharing, is your required “share” of the cost for services. |
| Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) | If your modified adjusted gross income is above a certain amount, you may pay an IRMAA in addition to your regular premium. | Medicare uses the modified adjusted gross income reported on your IRS tax return from two years ago. |
Medicare Part B Cost Example
You might be wondering, “Exactly how much will I pay out of pocket when I visit the doctor?” The actual dollar amount of a service Medicare Part B will cover depends on whether or not your physician accepts the assignment. This means your doctor/provider agrees to accept the Medicare-approved amount as full payment for the service they render. Sometimes, this is referred to as participating in or with Medicare.
A non-participating provider may require you to pay the entire charge for a service at the time you receive it; they can also charge you more than the Medicare-approved amount.
If your doctor has an agreement with Medicare to pay the Medicare-approved amount for the service, you will not be billed any more than the deductible and coinsurance.
For example, let’s say you visit your Medicare-approved physician for an outpatient cardiovascular appointment on Jan. 12. This appointment falls under your Medicare Part B insurance, and the visit is $250.
This was your first medical appointment of the year, so you have not yet paid your annual Medicare Part B deductible. You are responsible for the 2024 deductible of $240 before Medicare begins paying for services.
This means you have to pay the majority out of pocket for your doctor’s visit on Jan. 12. Of the $250 visit, you’ll pay $242. This covers your 2024 deductible and 20 percent of the remaining doctor visit balance. When you return for a follow-up visit in two weeks, you will only be responsible for the 20 percent coinsurance, since your deductible has already been paid.
From the experts: Wondering how to fill in the potentially costly gaps that Medicare Part B doesn’t cover? Our comprehensive guide to Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) and review of our picks for the best Medigap plans have the answers!
Medicare regularly sends you a Medicare Summary Notice for Part B (Medical Insurance), which notifies you of claims processed, how much of your deductible you have already paid, what services Medicare was billed on your behalf, what they paid, and the amount you are required to pay.
Medicare Part B Enrollment
If this is the year you or a loved one turn 65, a Medicare & You handbook will arrive by mail. This is the official, annual Medicare handbook that is sent every September to every Medicare household ahead of the October annual enrollment period. This handbook summarizes your benefits and rights under Medicare, identifies the changes that will take place in January of the following year, and provides official definitions for many important terms that you will need to understand. You can access the current year’s handbook electronically at any time by logging into your Medicare account.
Online
The Social Security Administration5 (SSA) manages your Medicare application and enrollment.
- Get started by visiting the Social Security Administration’s website.
- Create a “my Social Security” account.
- Start your Medicare application by selecting the Apply for Medicare Only button.
Inside tip: Follow our step-by-step my Social Security guide to set up your secure account.
By Phone
SSA customer service specialists are available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. To speak with a representative:
- Call the SSA’s toll-free number at 800-772-1213.
- If you have hearing loss, call the toll-free TTY number at 800-325-0778.
>> Related Reading: Medicare Coverage Helplines
RailRoad Retirement Board
If you or your spouse worked for a railroad, call the RRB at 1-877-772-5772.
Tool Tip: If you or a loved one already have Medicare Part A and want to add Part B, you can also fill out Form CMS-40B and send the completed form to your local Social Security office by fax or mail.
Things to Consider When Enrolling in Medicare Part B
As you prepare for Medicare enrollment, it’s important to think about the big picture. Take time to consider these four key questions:
- Do your current physicians accept Medicare? If they don’t, are there other medical professionals in the area who provide similar coverage?
- Do you plan to sign up for additional coverage from private insurers for prescription, vision, and dental needs?
- Are you interested in a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan?
- How will you budget for the Medicare Part B annual deductible, monthly premiums, and copayments?
- Do you need assistance paying for Medicare? Our Medicare Saving Programs guide explains how to get help.
Are you taking full advantage of your Medicare benefits? Whether you're a first-time Medicare recipient or someone who's been enrolled for years, understanding the finer points of Medicare can be confusing, which is why we are here to help. Watch the video with our Editor-in-Chief, Jeff Hoyt, to find out how to optimize coverage while lowering costs.
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2021). Who is eligible for Medicare?
Medicare.gov. (2023). Glossary.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2021). Medicare & You 2022.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2021). Medicare costs at a glance.
Social Security Administration. (2023). Sign up for Medicare.
