Medicare Part B

Medicare Part B: Medical Insurance

Medicare Part B is medical insurance that covers medically necessary services and supplies needed to diagnose or treat your health condition. It includes outpatient care, ambulance services, preventive services, and durable medical equipment. It also covers part-time home health care and rehabilitative services, such as physical therapy.

Medicare Part B covers:

• Medically necessary services: Services or supplies needed to diagnose or treat your medical condition that meet accepted standards of medical practice.
• Preventive services: Health care to prevent illness (like the flu) or detect it at an early stage, when treatment is most effective.

You pay nothing for most preventive services if you receive them from a health care provider who accepts assignment. Part B services also cover:

• Clinical research
• Limited outpatient prescription drugs
• Mental health services
• Inpatient mental health care
• Outpatient mental health care
• Partial hospitalization
• Ambulance services
• Durable medical equipment (DME)

Coverage under Medicare Part B is determined by:

• Federal and state laws
• National coverage decisions made by Medicare
• Local coverage decisions made by companies in each state that process Medicare claims

Medicare Part B Costs

All enrollees in Medicare Part B pay a monthly premium. If you receive benefits from Social Security, the Railroad Retirement Board, or the Office of Personnel Management, your premium is automatically deducted from your benefit payment. If you do not receive these benefits, you will receive a bill every month. In 2025, the standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B is $185.00. If your income exceeds a certain amount, you may pay an income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA) in addition to the standard premium. Medicare uses your modified adjusted gross income reported on your tax return from two years ago to determine your premium. The annual deductible for all Medicare Part B beneficiaries is $257 in 2025. After meeting the deductible, you typically pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for most doctor services, outpatient therapy, and durable medical equipment.

Medicare Part B Enrollment

If you’re receiving retirement benefits before age 65 or qualify for Medicare due to a disability, you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B when you become eligible. If you do not enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period and do not qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, you can sign up during the General Enrollment Period, which runs from January 1 to March 31 each year, with coverage starting on July 1. If you’re not automatically enrolled, you can apply for Medicare Part B through the Social Security website, in person, or by calling 1-800-772-1213 on weekdays. Upon enrolling in Medicare Part B, your six-month Medigap open enrollment period begins. During this period, you have a guaranteed-issue right to buy any Medigap policy sold in your state, regardless of your health status.

Medicare Part B Eligibility

You are eligible for Medicare Part B if:

• You are age 65 or older and a U.S. citizen
• You are a legal resident who has lived in the U.S. for at least five consecutive years
• You are under 65 and have a disability
• You have end-stage renal disease (ESRD)
• You have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

Medicare Part B Premiums

Your Medicare Part B premium may vary based on your income. In 2025, the standard monthly premium is $185.00. Higher-income beneficiaries may pay more due to IRMAA. If you do not receive Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits, you will receive a bill to pay your premiums. Four ways to pay your premium:

• Pay online through your Medicare account using a credit or debit card
• Set up automatic payments from your bank account
• Use Medicare Easy Pay, a free service that automatically deducts your premium payments from your bank account each month
• Mail a check to Medicare