60°F
weather icon Cloudy

What are the Medicare deductibles and premiums for 2025?

Dear Toni: In the new “Medicare & You” handbook, I cannot find what the 2025 costs and premiums will be. I would like to know this information because I have been diagnosed with a heart condition and will need to undergo heart surgeries next year. I have looked online and cannot find the costs. Do you have any idea what the 2025 Medicare costs will be? — Carolyn, Memphis, Tenn.

Dear Carolyn: Every year the “Medicare & You” handbook is mailed out before Oct. 1 to to help guide beneficiaries through the annual enrollment period (Oct. 15-Dec. 7.) The handbook states that at the time of printing, the premium and deductible amounts for Medicare Parts A, B and D were not available.

The 2025 Medicare costs were released Nov. 8, with an increase for Parts A and B premiums and deductibles.

Here are those premiums and deductibles, as well as information on Part D changes that will affect prescription drug costs:

Part A costs (inpatient hospital): The Part A inpatient hospital deductible for 2025 will increase from $1,632 to $1,676. The Part A deductible starts over every 60 days, or six times a year. Skilled nursing is included under Part A, and the 2025 costs will be a $0 copay per day for days 1 to 20 and $209.50 per day for days 21 to 100.

Part B deductible (medical): The medical/doctor deductible will increase from $240 in 2024 to $257. After the deductible is met, Medicare pays 80 percent of the approved amount, and the beneficiary pays the remaining 20 percent.

Part B premium: The premium will go from $174.70 in 2024 to $185. Those with an income higher than $106,000 as an individual, or $212,000 as a married couple, will pay more, but the premiums for higher-income earners were not released Nov.8.

Part D deductible: The prescription drug plan premium will increase from $545 last year to $590.

Part D initial coverage: There are five drug tiers. The Part D plan pays its share of the cost of your drugs, and you pay your share until the maximum amount of $2,000 out of pocket is met. Then you move into the catastrophic coverage stage and pay $0.

Coverage gap: Effective Jan. 1, the coverage gap, or “doughnut hole,” will no longer exist.

Prescription Payment Plan: Medicare’s new Prescription Payment Plan is a new payment option for 2025. It can help you manage your out-of-pocket drug costs by spreading them throughout the year. For more information, visit medicare.gov or call your Part D plan provider.

Toni King is an author and columnist on Medicare and health insurance issues. If you have a Medicare question, email info@tonisays.com or call 832-519-8664.

MOST READ: LIVE WELL
In case you missed it
Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.
THE LATEST
Tips for seniors to save on car insurance premiums

As auto insurance rates across the country continue to rise for all drivers, seniors 70 and older can face an even bigger price hike.

Are your hasty meals harming your health?

Experts tend to focus on the kinds of foods you can eat to improve your health. But the speed at which you devour your dinner matters just as much.

‘Running Point’ star Kate Hudson keeps things positive

“Life’s too short,” the star of the Netflix comedy series “Running Point” says. “There is too much to love in life for me to stay in the negative zone.”

My low income qualified me for Medicaid but …

For Medicaid, you must meet specific income requirements for your state. If you make even $1 too much, you will lose your benefits.

Tips for navigating Social Security as it downsizes

The Social Security Administration is facing massive budget cuts, which is leading to dozens of office closures and a lot of angst across the country.

How much sleep do we really need?

Here’s what sleep scientists and doctors say about how much you really need — and whether your gender plays a role.

MORE STORIES