For 2022, Medicare has some significant cost increases. When many people think about Medicare costs, they generally think about the premiums and the 20% coinsurance with Medicare Part B. However, they may not think about the additional cost-sharing that they could be stuck paying.
Medicare Part A costs for 2022
Medicare Part A is your inpatient hospital coverage. Many people will pay $0/month for Part A when they work at least 40 quarters in the U.S. However, if you worked 30-39 quarters, you will pay $274 a month for Part A, and if you worked less than 30 quarters, you would pay $499.
Part A cost-sharing
When you become an inpatient in the hospital, you will have a deductible per benefit period. The deductible in 2022 is $1,556. When you stay in the hospital for 60 consecutive days, that will be the only amount you pay for Part A services. However, if you are in the hospital for more than 60 days, you would pay a daily copay. For days 61-90, the daily copay is $389, and for days 91-150, you would pay $778 per day.
Additionally, if you are in a skilled nursing facility, your daily copay after day 20 is $194.50. Part A only covered 100 consecutive days in a skilled nursing facility.
Medicare Part B costs for 2022
Medicare Part B provides outpatient medical coverage, including doctor visits, surgeries, physical therapy, and more. You must pay the Part B premium monthly, which in 2022 is $170.10. This is a significant increase from the $148.50 in 2021. Keep in mind that if you are a high-income earner, you will pay more for Part B.
Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA)
If you are subject to IRMAA, then you will pay more for Part B. Social Security looks at your modified adjusted gross income on your tax return from two years before to determine your premium. If you filed individually and made $91k or less in 2020, then in 2022, you will pay the monthly base premium of $170.10. This also goes for those who filed jointly and made $182k or less.
The next bracket is from $91k-$114k individually or $182k-$228k jointly, which will put your premium at $238.10. For those who made $114k-$142k individually or $228k-$284k, the premium will be $340.20. If you made $142k-$170 individually or $284k-$340k, your premium will be $442.30. If you made $170k- less than $500k individually or $340k – less than $750k jointly, your Part B premium would be $544.30, and lastly, if you made about $500k individually or $750 jointly, your premium is $578.30.
If your income has changed since the two years prior, you can appeal the IRMAA charge.
Part B cost-sharing
In 2021, the Part B annual deductible was $203, but in 2022, the deductible increased to $233. The deductible resets at the beginning of each year, and once it is satisfied, Medicare covers 80% of Part B services. You are responsible for the 20% coinsurance, and there is no cap to this amount.
Part D costs in 2022
Although Part D plans vary, there are certain limits that each plan must include. In 2022, the allowed Part D deductible is $480, although the plans can set the deductible lower than that amount. The coverage gap or donut hole begins when you and the plan pay a total of $4,430 for your drugs in 2022. Once you have met that amount, you will pay 25% of the cost of your medications until you reach the catastrophic coverage limit, which is $7,050 in 2022.
These limits are the same with each Part D plan and Advantage plan that provides prescription drug coverage.
Part D premium
Your Part D premium will also be affected by IRMAA, and you will pay the amount in addition to your Part D plan premium. If you pay $238.10 for Part B, you will pay an additional $12.40 for Part D. If your Part B premium is $340.20, you will pay $32.10 in addition to your Part D premium. If you pay $442.30 for Part B, then you will pay $51.70 in addition to Part D. If your Part B premium is $544.30, then the additional Part D amount will be $71.30, and finally, if you will pay $578.30 for Part B, you will pay $77.90 for Part D in addition to your Part D plan premium.
Conclusion
The 2022 Medicare costs increased quite a bit compared to the 2021 numbers. It is always essential to prepare for these increases and look into additional plans to help with out-of-pocket costs.
