Ask Larry

Am I Stuck With A Higher Medicare Premium Rate?

I have been recieving Medicade for a few years now. This year they have in credeased my medicare portion to almost 500 because my income last year was over the 88,000 max .This year should be about 45,000 and I am stuck with this one time occurance

Hi. It sounds like you'll be stuck with a higher Medicare premium rate at least for this year unless your income has dropped due to what is defined in the Medicare regulations as a life-changing event (LCE). The following Social Security form lists and describes possible LCEs: https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-44-ext.pdf. If the reduction in your income is due to an LCE, you can complete and submit the form asking Social Security to reduce your Medicare premium based on your lower expected income.

Part B Medicare premium rates can be adjusted on an annual basis to account for increases or decreases in a person's income as reported on their tax return. So, you won't be permanently stuck with a higher Medicare premium rate if your income does in fact drop below the $88,000 income threshold.

Best, Jerry

Category: 
Posted: 
Dec 29 2021 - 9:50am
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