Because I am waiting until age 70 to claim my Social Security benefit, I pay for Medicare Part B by bank draft. This November I will begin to collect a spousal benefit based on my wife’s work record. Will Social Security automatically cancel my bank draft and begin to deduct my Part B premium from my spousal benefit, or do I need to contact Social Security to request this change? Many thanks.

Hi,

Social Security will withhold your Part B Medicare premiums from your spousal benefits, which will in turn stop the quarterly billing of your premiums. You don't need to contact Social Security to end the quarterly billings, but depending on the type of arrangement you've set up with your bank you may want to check with them to make sure that they won't continue to make payments after the quarterly billings stop.

By the way, there are sometimes temporary overlaps where Social Security withholds premiums for the same month(s) that you've already been billed for and paid. If that occurs, Social Security should refund any duplicate premiums within about 60 days.

Best, Jerry