Miami – If you’re new to Medicare, are considered a high-income beneficiary, or don’t have your Medicare premium deducted from a Social Security check, you might be in for sticker shock. Some websites are predicting a 22 percent increase in Part B premiums for 30 percent of Medicare beneficiaries.
If Congress doesn’t step in, Medicare Trustees forecast Part B premiums to jump from $121.80 to $149 a month in January 2017. Part B, also known as the Supplementary Medical Insurance program, pays most of the costs for physician, outpatient, some home health and preventive services.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services won’t release its Medicare 2017 premium list until Oct. 1, but some fear the hike may be a foregone conclusion because of the skyrocketing costs of health care and, strangely enough, the almost flat cost-of-living increases to Social Security.
