Medicare Costs for 2023: What You Should Know

Written by: Bryan Strickland

Reviewed by: Cassandra Parker, Licensed Insurance Agent
Key Takeaways
The Medicare Part B monthly premium for 2023 is $164.90, and the Part B annual deductible for 2023 is $226 — both decreases.
The higher costs are in tandem with an increase in Social Security benefits in 2023.
However, costs related to Medicare Part A are on the rise — although the large majority of people don’t pay a Part A premium.
The lowest cost or most coverage may not always be the best option for you.
Medicare Part B Premium for 2023
The Medicare Part B monthly premium decreased for 2023.
The Part B premium for 2023 is $164.90 a month, a 3.1% decrease from 2022.
For Medicare beneficiaries who draw Social Security, the historic rate increase coincides with an increase in their Social Security benefits. The Social Security Administration recently announced a 8.7% Cost-of-Living Adjustment for 2023. The increase means that seniors who are drawing full Social Security benefits and pay their Part B premium through their Social Security checks will actually net more money each month in 2023.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) also announced increases in the Part B deductible and the Part A premium and deductible.
Why is the Part B premium decreasing in 2023?
Medicare Part B, which provides medical insurance for millions of Americans, features a standard monthly premium every year.
In announcing the Part B premium decrease for 2023, CMS shared two reasons for the decreased premium:
- Lower-than-expected spending on Part B items and services.
- Lower-than-expected spending on a new drug, Aduhelm, which was anticipated to increase Medicare spending.
- Both resulted in larger reserves in the Part B account of the Supplementary Medical Insurance (SMI) Trust Fund
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Medicare Part B Deductible for 2023
CMS noted the same reasons for a decrease in the Part B deductible from $233 in 2022 to $226 in 2023.
How do Part B premiums and deductibles work?
If you are enrolled in Part B of Original Medicare, you are responsible for paying a premium each month that keeps your coverage active.
Your deductible is the amount you pay before your insurance policy will cover its portion of your medical bills. So when you use your Part B coverage by visiting a doctor or purchasing durable medical equipment for example, you typically are responsible for the costs out of pocket until you meet your deductible. After that, you still may be responsible for copays or coinsurance for covered services, but Part B will cover 80% of costs for most services.
Medicare Part A Costs for 2023
Ninety-nine percent of people don’t have to pay a monthly premium for Medicare Part A, commonly referred to as “hospital insurance.” But if you do receive treatment in a hospital or other approved facility, you are responsible for some costs.
- For 2023, the inpatient hospital deductible is $1,600, an increase from $1,556 in 2022. After you pay the benefit period deductible, your Medicare-approved inpatient care for the first 60 days costs you nothing.
- For Days 61-90, you are responsible for $400 of daily coinsurance, up from $389 in 2022.
- For lifetime reserve days (up to 60 days of coverage that you get after Day 90), you pay $800 coinsurance per day used — up from $778 in 2022.
- For approved stays in a skilled nursing facility, Medicare Part A doesn’t require you to pay a deductible or coinsurance for the first 20 days. You pay $200.00 coinsurance for Days 21-100, up from $194.50 in 2022.
Medicare Part A premium for 2023
One percent of Medicare beneficiaries are responsible for the Medicare Part A monthly premium because they (or a qualifying spouse) haven’t paid Medicare employment taxes for 10 or more years (40 or more quarters).
- Individuals who have logged fewer than 30 quarters are responsible for a monthly premium of $506 in 2023, a $7 increase from 2022.
- Individuals who have logged at least 30 quarters but fewer than 40 are responsible for a monthly premium of $278 in 2023, a $4 increase from 2022.
Are you eligible for cost-saving Medicare subsidies?
Income Related Adjustments for Part B, Part D
Part B has a standard premium that is set each year, and Part D prescription drug plans have a premium that varies from plan to plan.
But on top of those premiums, higher earners are required to pay higher premiums.
CMS estimates that 7% of Medicare beneficiaries are impacted by the following Income Related Monthly Adjusted Amounts (IRMAA), which are based on your 2021 modified adjusted gross income.
Part B IRMAA rates for 2023
- Individual: Up to $97,000
- Joint: Up to $194,000
- Cost added to standard premium: $0
- Individual: $97,001-$123,000
- Joint: $194,001-$246,000
- Cost added to standard premium: $65.90
- Individual: $123,001-$153,000
- Joint: $246,001-$306,000
- Cost added to standard premium: $164.80
- Individual: $153,001-$183,000
- Joint: $306,001-$366,000
- Cost added to standard premium: $263.70
- Individual: $183,001-$500,000
- Joint: $366,001-$750,000
- Cost added to standard premium: $362.60
- Individual: $500,001 and above
- Joint: $750,001 and above
- Cost added to standard premium: $395.60
If you were married and lived with your spouse during the tax year but filed a separate return, your Part B IRMAA is as follows.
Annual income up to $97,000
- IRMAA: $0
Annual income from $97,001-$403,000
- IRMAA: $362.60
Annual income greater than $403,000
- IRMAA: $395.60
Part D IRMAA rates for 2023
- Individual: Up to $97,000
- Joint: Up to $194,000
- Cost added to standard premium: $0
- Individual: $97,001-$123,000
- Joint: $194,001-$246,000
- Cost added to standard premium: $12.20
- Individual: $123,001-$153,000
- Joint: $246,001-$306,000
- Cost added to standard premium: $31.50
- Individual: $153,001-$183,000
- Joint: $306,001-$366,000
- Cost added to standard premium: $50.70
- Individual: $183,001-$500,000
- Joint: $366,001-$750,000
- Cost added to standard premium: $70.00
- Individual: $500,001 and above
- Joint: $750,001 and above
- Cost added to standard premium: $76.40
If you were married and lived with your spouse during the tax year but filed a separate return, your Part D IRMAA is as follows.
Annual income up to $97,000
- IRMAA: $0
Annual income from $97,001-$403,000
- IRMAA: $70.00
Annual income greater than $403,000
- IRMAA: $76.40
What it Means for You
You now have a lot of information at your fingertips about 2023 Medicare costs, but what do you do with it? Parts A and B coverage is the cornerstone of Original Medicare. Parts A and B coverage also is at the heart of Medicare Advantage, an alternative to Original Medicare offered by private insurance companies that includes Parts A and B coverage but offers additional benefits and potential savings.
Original Medicare
- If you have a qualifying work history, your Part A benefits don’t come with a monthly premium.
- Your Medicare Part B premium is set each year by the federal government and income brackets determine if you pay a standard rate or more.
- There is no limit on what you pay out of pocket each year. You will always be responsible for 20% of expensive treatments or surgery. These services can be costly.
- Original Medicare usually costs more than Medicare Advantage but can make budgeting your healthcare costs easier by offering predictable pricing for services.
- Original Medicare does not have the protection of out-of-pocket limits.
Medicare Advantage
- Your Part A and Part B coverage are always the same but networks, copays, and Rx options can change from plan to plan. You must still pay your Part B premium if you switch to Medicare Advantage.
- Insurance companies are paid by the federal government to administer Medicare Advantage plans and each company determines their plans costs.
- Roughly half of all Medicare Advantage plans offer a Part D plan without an additional deductible.
- Medicare Advantage offers maximum out-of-pocket limits, so any covered services after reaching MOOP cost nothing for the remainder of the calendar year.
What extra benefits and savings do you qualify for?
Many Different Kinds of Costs: Make the Comparison
We have and will mention throughout, don’t accept face value. Just because a plan is expensive, doesn’t not make it right for you. Every Medicare plan provides different options for services, including prescription drug prices, provider networks, vision and dental, and more.
Getting coverage that matches your health needs is paramount. Next, you can look at additional coverage and plan flexibility — both vary and come with different costs.
We’ve taken common scenarios for all four parts of Medicare and identified how they compare.
Original Medicare
Most people who choose Original Medicare plus a Medigap plan value access to Medicare’s entire network. Medicare’s network offers flexibility.
- Higher Cost
- Coverage & Flexibility
Original Medicare and Medigap have predictable costs. Beneficiaries want the peace of mind that comes from knowing exactly how much they will spend on a hospital stay or chronic illness. They buy for convenience and don’t mind spending a bit more to gain peace of mind.
- Higher Cost
- Coverage & Flexibility
Sometimes people also choose Original Medicare if their doctors do not participate in any Medicare Advantage plans.
- Higher Cost
- Coverage & Flexibility
Medicare Advantage
Medicare pays the insurance company to administer your Part A and B benefits through the Medicare Advantage plan.
- Affordable Cost
- Good Coverage
Most Medicare Advantage Plans have a Part D option included.
- Affordable Cost
- Coverage & Flexibility
Medicare Advantage offers a lower monthly premium, and you get great coverage if your doctors and hospital are in network.
- Affordable Cost
- Good Coverage
Medicare Advantage plans may offer additional services, like dental and vision, wellness programs, transportation, and more.
- Affordable Cost
- Coverage & Flexibility
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Original Medicare & Part D
Enrollees can see any provider that accepts Medicare.
- Higher Cost
- Coverage & Flexibility
Costs for Parts A, B, and D can be significant.
- Higher Cost
- Coverage & Flexibility
Without Medigap, there’s no Part A and B out-of-pocket limit.
- Higher Cost
- Good Coverage
Original Medicare, Part D & Medigap
Depending on the Medigap plan, Parts A and B deductibles, coinsurance, and copays may be covered in full.
- Affordable Cost
- Coverage & Flexibility
The total cost for Parts A, B, D, and Medigap could be more expensive than Medicare Advantage.
- Higher Cost
- Coverage & Flexibility
Medigap does not help pay Part D drug costs, so they can be higher than a Medicare Advantage plan.
- Higher Cost
- Coverage & Flexibility
Premium payments will be lower without Medigap, but out-of-pocket costs may be higher without additional coverage.
- Affordable Cost
- Coverage & Flexibility
Get the health benefits and savings you’re entitled to.
Make the Right Choice by Comparison
Making an important choice like what health insurance plan to purchase is huge! There are so many details, and there are licensed insurance agents, like GoHealth, that can help you wade through those waters. But if you choose to comparison-shop on your own, consider these four topics over anything else.
Total cost for care
It’s important to think about your total out-of-pocket costs, including deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, maximums, and drug costs, that you’ll pay with a Medicare health or drug plan.
Provider
Some plan types have a network of providers you’ll have to use if you want to pay less. If you have a particular doctor or pharmacy that you prefer to go to, see if that plan has a network.
What benefits do you Need?
Many Medicare Advantage Plans include prescription drug, vision, hearing, and dental coverage.
Overall “Star Rating”
The “Overall Star Rating” gives a rating of the plan’s quality and performance for the types of services each plan offers. A plan can get a rating between 1 and 5 stars.