Changes in Medicare set for 2025

With each new year come changes in Medicare costs and coverages. This year the changes are:

Part A (hospital insurance) premium is free if you’ve worked 10 years or more, $285 per month if you’ve worked 7.5 to 10 years, $518 per month if you’ve worked fewer than 7.5 years. The Part A hospital deductible is $1,676 each benefit period.

Part A hospital coinsurance is $0 for the first 60 days of inpatient care each benefit period and $419 per day for days 61-90 each benefit period. The lifetime reserve is $838. The lifetime reserve days are only to be used once and they are not renewable. Skilled nursing facilities are $0 for the first 20 days of inpatient care each benefit period and $209.50 per day for days 21-100 each benefit period.

Part B (medical insurance) premium is $185. If your annual income is higher than $106,000 for an individual (212,00 for a couple), you will pay a higher Part B premium. The Part B deductible is $257 per year. The Part B coinsurance is 20% for most services Part B covers.

Part D (prescription drug coverage) has a national average of $36.78 per month, and the Part D maximum deductible is $590 per year. The out-of-pocket limit is $2,000.

If you have any questions about Medicare or need help with your name brand drug costs, please call the DeKalb County Council on Aging and ask for Lynn Hixon or DiAnne Callahan at 256-845-8590.