Part B Cost-Sharing Lower Than Expected for 2012
Today the Obama Administration announced that, overall, Part B cost-sharing will be less than projected for all beneficiaries in 2012. The Part B deductible will decrease by $22 in 2012, from $162 per year in 2011 to $140 in 2012. Further, monthly Part B premiums will increase slightly for those beneficiaries who have not had an increase in the last two years. Because there will be a cost-of-living increase for Social Security recipients in 2012, the Part B premium will increase, but only by $3.50 – from $96.40 in 2011 to $99.90 in 2012.[1] For those individuals who did have Part B premium increases in 2010 and 2011, the premium will actually decrease by $15.10 in 2012, from $115 to $99.90.
For a complete breakdown of Medicare cost-sharing for 2012, see: https://www.medicareadvocacy.org/2011/10/2012-medicare-premiums-deductibles-and-co-pays/
[1] In 2010 and 2011, most beneficiaries were "held harmless" to any Part B increase because they did not have an increase in their Social Security.