Medicare Part B
Medicare Part B (medical insurance) helps cover medically necessary services and supplies needed for the diagnosis or treatment of your health condition. This includes outpatient services received at a hospital, doctor’s office, clinic, or other health facility.
Patients would be glad to know that Medicare Part B now covers some pretty expensive drugs. Medicare Part B usually covers outpatient services and doctor visits.
Medicare Part B covers 2 types of services:
- Medically necessary services: Services or supplies that are needed to diagnose or treat your medical condition and that meet accepted standards of medical practice.
- Preventive Service: Health care to prevent illness (like the flu) or detect it at an early stage, when treatment is most likely to work best.
You pay nothing for most preventive services if you get the services from a health care provider who accepts assignment.
Medicare Part B covers things like:
- Clinical research
- Mental health services
- Limited Outpatient prescription drugs
- Inpatient care options
- Durable Medical Equipment (DME)
- Ambulance services
- Partial hospitalisation
- Outpatient care
Medicare Part B costs:
You’ll pay both a monthly premium and a yearly deductible for Medicare Part B. The monthly premium amount may vary depending on your specific situation:
- You’ll generally pay $104.90 for your monthly premium if you were enrolled in Part B before 2016.
- If any of the following applies to you, you’ll generally pay $121.80 for your Part B premium:
- You enroll in Part B for the first time in 2016.
- You’re billed directly for your Part B premium.
- You have both Medicare and Medicaid coverage, and Medicaid pays for your monthly premiums.
- You aren’t receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits.
In addition to your monthly premium, you’ll pay $166 for the yearly Part B deductible. For individual services and supplies, your Medicare Part B costs may vary. Some preventive services are completely covered if your provider accepts Medicare assignment. If the Medicare Part B deductible applies, you must pay all costs until you meet the yearly deductible amount before Medicare begins paying its share.