Medicare Update: CMS Announces 2010 Medicare Premiums and Deductibles

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On October 16, 2009, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released display copies of Notices announcing Medicare Part A and Part B premiums and deductibles for calendar year 2010.

Medicare Part A

The deductible for a beneficiary admitted as a hospital inpatient will be $1,100 in 2010, which is an increase of $32 from 2009. The Notices also indicate that a beneficiary will have to pay an additional $275 per day for days 61-90 in 2010, and $550 for lifetime reserve days. Further, the Notices indicate that the daily coinsurance for days 21-100 in a skilled nursing facility will increase to $137.50 in 2010.

According to CMS, 99 percent of Medicare beneficiaries do not have to pay a premium for Part A services. However, some seniors and certain other individuals under age 65 with disabilities, who have fewer than 30 quarters of coverage, may obtain Part A coverage by paying a monthly premium. That premium will be $461 per month in 2010. However, a reduced premium applies for individuals with 30-39 quarters of coverage, which will be $254 in 2010.

Medicare Part B

The Medicare Part B deductible for 2010 will be $155.

The 2010 Part B monthly premium rates for beneficiaries who file an individual tax return (including those who are single, head of household, qualifying widow(er) with dependent child, or married filing separately who lived apart from their spouse for the entire taxable year), or who file a joint tax return are:
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