Medicare is a federal health insurance program that covers millions of Americans who are 65 or older, disabled, or have certain chronic conditions. Medicare has different parts that cover different types of services, such as hospital care, doctor visits, prescription drugs, and more. Depending on the type of Medicare coverage you have, you may have to pay a monthly premium to get the benefits.
Most people who have Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) do not pay a premium, because they or their spouse paid Medicare taxes while working. However, some people who have Part A may have to pay a premium if they did not work enough or pay enough taxes. The standard Part A premium for 2024 is $471 per month, but it may be lower depending on your work history.
Medicare Part B (medical insurance) covers doctor visits, preventive services, lab tests, and other outpatient care. Most people who have Part B pay a standard premium of $148.50 per month in 2024, but it may be higher or lower depending on your income and other factors. You can find out your exact Part B premium amount by logging into your Medicare account or checking your Social Security benefit statement.
Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage) is optional and offered by private insurance companies that contract with Medicare. The Part D premium varies by plan, but the national average for 2024 is $33.06 per month. In addition, some people who have higher incomes may have to pay an extra amount called the Part D income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA), which ranges from $12.30 to $77.10 per month in 2024.
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan (also known as Part C), which is an alternative way to get your Medicare benefits through a private company, you may also have to pay a monthly premium for the plan. The premium amount depends on the plan you choose and the services it covers. Some Medicare Advantage plans have zero premiums, while others may charge more than $100 per month.
How to Pay Your Premiums Directly
If you get a monthly benefit from Social Security, the Railroad Retirement Board, or the Office of Personnel Management, your Medicare premium will usually be deducted automatically from your benefit payment. However, if you do not get any of these benefits, or if you want to pay your premium directly for any reason, you have four options to do so:
- Online bill payment: You can log into your secure Medicare account and pay your premium by credit card, debit card, or from your checking or savings account. This is the fastest and easiest way to pay your premium online. You can also view your payment history and print your receipts. To use this service, you need to create a Medicare account or log into your existing one.
- Medicare Easy Pay: You can sign up for Medicare Easy Pay, which is a free service that automatically deducts your premium payments from your checking or savings account each month. You do not need to worry about missing a payment or updating the amount if your premium changes. To use this service, you need to fill out and mail an authorization form to Medicare.
- Online bill pay through your bank: You can contact your bank and set up an online bill payment service to pay your premium directly from your checking or savings account. You need to provide your bank with your 11-character Medicare number, the payee name (CMS Medicare Insurance), the payee address, and the amount of your payment. You also need to make sure that your bank mails the payment at least 5 business days before the due date on your bill. Some banks may charge a fee for this service.
- Mail your payment to Medicare: You can pay by check, money order, credit card, or debit card. You need to fill out the payment coupon at the bottom of your bill, and include it with your payment. If you are paying by credit or debit card, you need to complete and sign the coupon. You need to use the return envelope that came with your bill, and mail your payment to: Medicare Premium Collection Center, PO Box 790355, St. Louis, MO 63179-0355. You need to make sure that your payment reaches Medicare by the due date on your bill.
The table below summarizes the four payment options and their pros and cons:
| Payment option | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Online bill payment | Fast, easy, secure, free, online receipt | Need to create or log into Medicare account, need to update payment amount if premium changes |
| Medicare Easy Pay | Automatic, free, no need to update payment amount | Need to fill out and mail authorization form, need to cancel service if no longer needed |
| Online bill pay through bank | Convenient, online, no need to mail payment | Need to provide bank with payment information, need to update payment amount if premium changes, may incur bank fees, need to allow enough time for payment to reach Medicare |
| Mail payment to Medicare | No need for online access or bank account | Need to mail payment every month, need to update payment amount if premium changes, need to allow enough time for payment to reach Medicare |
What to Do If You Have Questions or Problems with Your Payment
If you have any questions or problems with your Medicare premium payment, you can do the following:
- Log into your Medicare account and check your payment history and status1.
- Call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.
- Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778.
- Call the Railroad Retirement Board at 1-877-772-5772. TTY users can call 1-312-751-4701.
- Call your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan if you have questions about their premiums.
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