Number: R40082
Title: Medicare: Part B Premiums
Authors: Jim Hahn, Analyst in Health Care Financing 
Abstract: Current issues related to the Part B premium that may come before Congress include the recent requirement that higher-income beneficiaries pay a larger income-related premium, the programs that assist low-income beneficiaries with out-of-pocket Medicare costs including the Part B premium, the amount of the premium and the rate of increase in recent years (by 2080, projections by the Medicare trustees indicate that a medium earner will need 15% of his or her Social Security benefits to pay the Part B premium), and modifications to the late enrollment penalty. The report also discusses the comparative cost adjustment program, the Part B deductible, and the Part A premium.
Pages: 22
Date: December 29, 2008