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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the Part B premium and deductible costs for 2023. Railroad Medicare processes claims for Part B services.

This year saw a modest decrease in both costs. The 2023 annual Part B deductible decreased from $233 to $226, a $7.00 difference. The 2023 standard Part B premium amount also decreased from $170.10 in 2022 to $164.90 in 2023, which is a difference of $5.20. Per CMS, most people pay $164.90, although those with higher or lower incomes have monthly adjusted amounts.

The following table shows the monthly premium payments based on your 2021 income:

If you filed an INDIVIDUAL Tax Return with income in 2021 of If you filed a JOINT Tax Return with income in 2021 ofIf you are married but filed a separate tax return with income in 2021 ofPart B premium you will pay each month in 2023
$97,000 or less$194,000 or less$97,000 or less$164.90
Above $97,000 up to $123,000Above $194,000 up to $246,000Not applicable$230.80
Above $123,000 up to $153,000Above $246,000 up to $306,000Not applicable$329.70
Above $153,000 up to $183,000Above $306,000 up to $366,000Not applicable$428.60
Above $183,000 and less than $500,000Above $366,000 and less than $750,000Above $97,000 and less than $403,000$527.50
$500,000 or above$750,000 or above$403,000 or above$560.50

If you have questions about your Part B Premium, you can call the Railroad Retirement Board toll free at 877-772-5772, or for the hearing impaired (TTY) call 312-751-4701. General information can also be found at the RRB’s website at www.RRB.gov.

If you have questions about your Railroad Medicare coverage, you can call Palmetto GBA’s Beneficiary Contact Center at 800-833-4455, or for the hearing impaired, call TTY/TDD at 877-566-3572. Customer Service Representatives are available Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. ET.

You are encouraged sign up for Palmetto’s free internet portal, MyRRMed. MyRRMed provides you with access to your claims information, along with historical Medicare Summary Notices, and a listing of individuals you have authorized to have access to your protected health information (PHI). You can also submit requests to add or change your authorized representatives through the portal. To access MyRRMed, please visit www.PalmettoGBA.com/MyRRMed.

Palmetto GBA is the Railroad Specialty Medicare Administrative Contractor (RRB SMAC) and processes Part B claims for Railroad Retirement beneficiaries nationwide. Palmetto GBA is contracted by the independent federal agency Railroad Retirement Board.

RRB_sealThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced that the standard monthly Part B premium will be $134.00 in 2017. However, most Medicare beneficiaries will not pay this amount. By law, Part B premiums for current enrollees cannot increase by more than the amount of the cost-of-living adjustment for social security (railroad retirement tier I) benefits.

Since that adjustment is 0.3 percent in 2017, about 70 percent of Medicare beneficiaries will see only a slight increase in their Part B premiums. The higher premium amount will apply to new enrollees in the program, and certain beneficiaries will continue to pay higher premiums based on their modified adjusted gross income.

The monthly premiums that include income-related adjustments for 2017 will be $187.50; $267.90; $348.30 or $428.60, depending on the extent to which an individual beneficiary’s modified adjusted gross income exceeds $85,000 (or $170,000 for a married couple). The highest rate applies to beneficiaries whose incomes exceed $214,000 (or $428,000 for a married couple). The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services estimates that less than 5 percent of Medicare beneficiaries pay the larger income-adjusted premiums.

Beneficiaries in Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage plans pay premiums that vary from plan to plan. Beginning in 2011, the Affordable Care Act required Part D beneficiaries whose modified adjusted gross income exceeds the same income thresholds that apply to Part B premiums to also pay a monthly adjustment amount. In 2017, the adjustment amount ranges from $13.30 to $76.20.

The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) withholds Part B premiums from benefit payments it processes. The agency can also withhold Part C and D premiums from benefit payments if an individual submits a request to his or her Part C or D insurance plan.

The following tables show the income-related Part B premium adjustments for 2017. The Social Security Administration (SSA) is responsible for all income-related monthly adjustment amount determinations.  To make the determinations, SSA uses the most recent tax return information available from the Internal Revenue Service. For 2017, that will usually be the beneficiary’s 2015 tax return information. If that information is not available, SSA will use information from the 2014 tax return.

Those railroad retirement and social security Medicare beneficiaries affected by the 2017 Part B and D income-related premiums will receive a notice from SSA by December 2016.  The notice will include an explanation of the circumstances where a beneficiary may request a new determination.  Persons who have questions or would like to request a new determination should contact SSA after receiving their notice.

Additional information about Medicare coverage, including specific benefits and deductibles, can be found at www.medicare.gov

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services says that while the standard monthly Part B premium will rise to $115.40 in 2011, most Medicare beneficiaries will not see an increase in their monthly Part B premiums.

This is because of a hold-harmless provision in current law that will freeze Part B premiums at the amount paid in 2010.

It is those who newly enrolled in Medicare Part B during 2010 who will pay the new $115.40 monthly premium in 2011.

Additionally, those who do not have their Part B premiums withheld from Railroad Retirement or Social Security payments, or those subject to income-related additional premium amounts will pay a higher premium in 2011.

The income-related additional premium threshold is annual adjusted income of $85,000 for individuals and $170,000 for married couples.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services estimates that only about 5 percent of Medicare beneficiaries with Part B will pay higher premiums in 2011 because of their higher annual incomes.

As for Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage plans, those premiums vary from plan to plan.

Beginning in 2011, the Affordable Care Act requires Medicare Part D participants, whose modified adjusted gross incomes exceed the $85,000 and $170,000 thresholds, to pay a second premium in addition to the standard Plan D premium.

Medicare beneficiaries affected by the 2011 Part B and D income-related premiums will receive a notice from the Social Security Administration with further details on the higher Part B and Part D premiums they will face.