How much does Medicare Cost? (2023)

 If you don't have to use Medicare, then it is relatively inexpensive.  As you get older though, more things go wrong with your body that eventually start to add up. Just like you don't buy the car insurance after the accident, you don't want to wait until something happens before purchasing coverages that pays for what Medicare doesn't cover. For that reason, let's look at the potential costs that could add up.

The complete package of Medicare includes Parts A, B, C, and D.  To keep it short and simple, part A covers the hospital costs.  Part B covers your doctors costs and part D covers your prescription drugs.  Part C has two options but you can't have both.  You either get a Medigap plan otherwise known as a Medicare Supplement plan, or a Medicare Advantage plan.

If you worked 10 years of your life and payed through FICA you will qualify for part A, otherwise you will have to pay for it.  Part B is something you have to sign up for and is currently costing $170.10 a month and will come out of your Social Security check. You will also need to sign up for part D. Not signing up for parts B and D could cost you by way of a penalty in years to come. 

Where it tends to get gray is in Part C. That is because it depends on the type of plan you favor.  Do you prefer upfront costs and reduced back end charges?  Or, do you prefer less front end charges but you will pay as you go?  In general, a Medicare Supplement will cost more in premium but will possibly not cost you much after you pay the deductible for the year.  Some popular supplements are G and N.  Plan F is still available if you were 65 before Jan. 1, 2020.  You could find one of these plans for $100 a month or so.  Your current part B deductible is $233. Roughly for only $1433 a year plus the cost of your Part D you would have BASIC coverage.

On the other hand, a Medicare Advantage plan would not have as high of a premium. Many have a $0 premium but this is where it gets tricky.  These plans are like many employer plans in that you pay something to your doctor every time you visit. If you read the policy carefully, the plan states you pay for services such as emergency room service, outpatient care, mental help, and so on.  Each policy is different, so you may also have to pay for transportation such as an air ambulance. They may include dental, vision, and hearing but one visit could be the maximum that plan would pay for the year so the rest of your visits would be out of your pocket.  Finally, these plans have a maximum out of pocket expense which could be in excess of $10,000 ANNUALLY. Neither plan will cover costs that are unapproved by Medicare.

Next, depending on your family history it may be necessary to add extra coverage to Part C. These plans pay you back for your expenses which don't have to be medically related.  Most common areas are for cost that arise when having Cancer, Heart Attack, Stroke, some accidental coverage, and reimbursement for those medical expensed listed above, emergency services, outpatient, etc.  This money comes to you for you to use it as you see fit.  After all, the bills don't stop just because you are laid up!

As you can see, the true cost of Medicare depends on what you mean when asking the question.  If you elect not to get a Part C plan, and you can do that, it can really add up but again depends on your medical history or an unexpected accident. If you

have further question or would like to talk to a licensed representative visit https://retirementconcerns.info

 Follow us!