For several years, Medicare beneficiaries with relatively high incomes have been required to pay income-related monthly premiums for Part B, which covers physician and other outpatient services, and for Part D, which covers outpatient prescription drugs. Most Medicare beneficiaries pay the standard monthly premium, which is set to cover 25 percent of Part B and Part D program costs, but higher-income beneficiaries are required to pay a larger share of program costs. According to the Medicare trustees, in 2017, 3.5 million Medicare beneficiaries paid Part B income-related premiums (6.6 percent of beneficiaries in Part B) and 2.5 million beneficiaries paid Part D income-related premiums (5.6 percent of Part D enrollees). This issue brief describes current requirements with respect to Medicare's Part B and Part D income-related premiums and changes to these premiums that will take effect in 2019, based on a provision in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018.
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