You have multiple options for making payments for your Medicare premiums, and the method you choose depends on the specific Medicare part you’re covering and whether you receive Social Security benefits.

Generally, most individuals are not required to pay premiums for Medicare Part A, but they do have premiums for Part B, which amounted to $170.10 per month in 2022 (increasing to $164.90 in 2023). Individuals with higher incomes may incur even higher premium costs.

Additionally, if you opt to purchase supplementary policies from private insurers to help offset Medicare’s out-of-pocket expenses, you will also be responsible for separate premiums. This applies to both private Part D prescription drug plans and Medicare supplement plans, often referred to as Medigap plans. If you have coverage through a private Medicare Advantage plan rather than original Medicare, you may also encounter additional premium expenses.

How to make premium payments for Medicare Part A?

Usually, you won’t be required to make a monthly payment for Medicare Part A if you or your spouse had Medicare taxes withheld from your earnings for a total of 10 years of work. In Medicare terms, this translates to 40 quarters on the calendar, and these quarters don’t need to be consecutive.

However, if neither you nor your spouse accumulated that many quarters of work, you can anticipate a monthly premium obligation. For instance, in 2022, if you or your spouse contributed to Medicare taxes for 30 to 39 quarters, you will be responsible for a monthly Part A premium of $274 ($278 in 2023). If your Medicare tax contributions were fewer than 30 quarters, the monthly Part A premium will be $499 ($506 in 2023).

Medicare will send you an invoice for any outstanding Part A premium amounts you owe, and you have the flexibility to settle these payments electronically or by traditional mail. Further details can be found below.

How do I pay premiums for Medicare Part B?

If you are currently receiving Social Security benefits or benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), which is a program established in the 1930s for railroad workers and is still active today, your Medicare Part B premium will be automatically deducted from these benefits, and you won’t need to receive a bill.

However, if you have not yet started receiving Social Security benefits, Medicare will send you a bill for your Part B premium on a quarterly basis. You have four payment options available:

Online Payment: Access your Medicare account online and make your payment using a credit card, debit card, or electronic funds transfer from your checking or savings account. After logging in, go to “My premiums” from the dropdown menu under your name, select “Pay Now,” and choose your preferred payment method and the amount you wish to pay. You will be directed to the secure Pay.gov site managed by the U.S. Treasury to complete your payment. Make sure to keep the confirmation number you receive as a payment record. Please note that it may take approximately five business days for your bank to process a transfer from your checking or savings account, while credit card payments are typically processed more quickly.
Enroll in Medicare Easy Pay. A convenient and complimentary service that allows Medicare to automatically withdraw your premium payments from your checking or savings account each month. These deductions occur on the 20th of the month or the following business day.
To register for Medicare Easy Pay, access your online Medicare account, then select “My premiums” and proceed to the “Sign up” option to complete a brief online form. Alternatively, you can opt for the paper enrollment form via mail. It’s important to note that it may take approximately six to eight weeks for the automatic deductions to commence, so you’ll need to make premium payments through another method until the service is fully active.
Once your account is established, you’ll receive a monthly statement detailing the amount that Easy Pay will deduct from your bank account. Your bank statement will reflect a payment to CMS Medicare Premiums.
1. Make your payment directly from your checking or savings account by utilizing your bank’s online bill payment service if it is available. To do this, your bank will require your 11-character Medicare number, which corresponds to the number on your Medicare card without the dashes. The payee name you should enter is “CMS Medicare Insurance,” and the payee address is “Medicare Premium Collection Center, P.O. Box 790355, St. Louis, MO 63179-0355.”

Online payments typically process within five business days, though the duration may vary if your bank sends a physical check. To obtain specific timing information, it’s advisable to inquire with your bank about their processing times.

1. You can also opt to mail your payment directly to Medicare. Accepted payment methods include checks, credit cards, debit cards, or money orders. Ensure you include your Medicare number on your payment and complete the payment coupon provided. Mail it to the following address as indicated on your bill: “Medicare Premium Collection Center, P.O. Box 790355, St. Louis, MO 63179-0355.”

Payment for Part D, Part C and Medigap

If you decide to enhance your coverage through a private insurer to help cover Medicare’s out-of-pocket expenses or prescription drug coverage, you may be required to pay additional premiums to that specific plan.

Part D prescription drug coverage: Your plan will send you monthly invoices or provide an annual coupon book containing monthly payment sheets. You have the option to set up automatic payments using your bank account or credit card.

If you prefer, you can request your plan to deduct the premium directly from your monthly Social Security benefits, a process known as a premium withhold. Please note that it may take up to three months for the automatic payments to become effective after your premium withhold request. Until then, you may need to make premium payments directly to your plan.

If you are subject to a high-income surcharge for Part D, referred to as the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA), the additional monthly premium is paid to Medicare rather than your plan. If you receive Social Security benefits, the IRMAA is automatically deducted from your payments. If not, Medicare will send you a monthly bill for the additional amount, and you’ll have the same payment options as outlined for Part B above.

Medicare Advantage plans: Even if you have coverage through a private Medicare Advantage plan instead of original Medicare, you are still required to enroll in Medicare Parts A and B and pay the associated monthly premiums. While many plans do not impose additional charges, some may require an extra monthly premium.

Your Medicare Advantage plan will issue monthly invoices, and you may have the option to establish automatic payments using your bank account or credit card. If you are subject to a high-income surcharge for the drug component of your coverage, you can either opt for automatic deduction from your Social Security benefits or receive a monthly bill from Medicare for that amount. The same applies if you receive benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB).

Medicare supplement plans: If you have purchased a Medigap policy to assist with covering Medicare’s deductibles and copayments, you will be responsible for paying premiums directly to the plan. For specific details, get in touch with your plan provider. Generally, you will have similar payment options available, including electronic payments and mail-in payment methods, as offered by other plans.

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