What will Original Medicare cost in 2011?

As January approaches you may begin thinking about your Medicare costs in 2011. The costs listed below reflect the prices you will pay for Original Medicare beginning January 1, 2011.

For Part A, each month (in 2011) you will pay:

• Nothing if you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for 10 years or more in the U.S.
• $248 if you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes between 7.5 and 10 years in the U.S.
• $450 if you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for fewer than 7.5 years in the U.S.

For Part A, (in 2011) your coinsurance will be:

• $0 for days 0-60 each benefit period. A benefit period begins the day you start getting inpatient care. It ends when you’ve been out of the hospital or skilled nursing facility for 60 days in a row.
• $283 each day for days 61-90 each benefit period
• and $566 per day for days 91-150 (lifetime reserve days—total of 60 lifetime reserve days which are non-renewable)

For Part A, (in 2011) your deductible will be:

• $1,132 each benefit period

For Part B, each month (in 2011) you will pay…

If your income is at or below $85,000 ($170,000 for couples)..

• A $96.40 premium each month if have had your premium deducted from your Social Security check starting in or prior to December 2009 and continued to have your premium deducted in 2010 and 2011.
• A $110.50 premium each month if you began having your premium deducted from your Social Security check in 2010 and will continue to have your premiums withheld in 2011. This includes people who are new to Medicare in 2010 who had and continue to have their premiums withheld from their Social Security checks.
• A $115.40 premium each month if you sign up for Part B in 2011, or if you do not have your premium withheld from your Social Security check.

People with high incomes have a higher Part B premium.