Creative accounting for Medicare Part B premiums

[question everything]

Yes, I've heard about the 0.3% increase of SS benefits. Right. A whooping $4 a month. But what surprised me, my spouse already got the benefit schedule for 2017 and the Medicare premium is not "an average of $109" as it is said in the Medicare page.

https://www.medicare.gov/your-medicare-costs/part-b-costs/part-b-costs.html

No, it is calculated so that the net benefit is the same as it is in 2016. Thus, each one of us - at least if we get Medicare premiums deducted from our SS benefits - will pay a different premium.

[lillypaddle]

1. thanks for the info

I gather that means a range of 3 - 5 bucks. Oh my, what will I do with all of that?

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. My soc. Sec. check will be 1.00 less than last year

which was 1.00 less than the year before.
Because of Medicare premium.

I am going backwards.

[question everything]

3. This is strange

Did you call and ask?

Don't call the main SS number, you will have a wait time of 40 minutes!

Find out the number of your local branch. This is what I did and got an immediate response.

Last year nothing was changed, or was not supposed to have changed because there was no COLA and if SS does not rise, neither should Medicare premium. I think it is called "do no harm."

Or, call your member of congress, even if a rabid republican and try to get some help in how you should approach this. Even 1.00 - it is the principle.

[Thinkingabout]

4. Fact is whatever the 0.3% raise one receives is going to be paid to Medicare premium, in other words

there will not be a raise in the checks of Medicare premium payees. There will be different amounts being paid, it will be interesting.