[T]he Social Security Administration announced there would be no increase in Social Security benefits for 2010.   As a result of the hold-harmless provision, the increase in the Part B premium for 2010 will be paid by only a small percentage of Part B enrollees. Most Part B enrollees will pay the same monthly premium that they paid in 2009 ($96.40 was the 2009 standard monthly premium). 

Approximately 27 percent of beneficiaries are not subject to the hold-harmless provision because they are new enrollees during the year (3 percent), they are subject to the income-related additional premium amount (5 percent), they do not have their Part B premiums withheld from social security benefit payments (19 percent), including those who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid and have their Part B premiums paid on their behalf by Medicaid (17 percent).

In addition, Medicare announced ...
The 2010 Medicare Part B deductible will increase $20 to $155 from the $135 deductible in 2009 deductible.  The 2010 Medicare Part A deductible will increase $32 to $1,100 from the $1,068 deductible in 2009.  Your Medicare Part A provides coverage for inpatient hospital services, skilled nursing facility costs, hospice, and specific home health care services.  As a note, you must be enrolled in both Medicare Parts A and B to be eligible to join a Medicare Advantage plan.

(Click here to read the complete CMS Fact Sheet on 2010 Medicare premiums and deductibles.)

And the really bad news is ...
On top of the increases in Part B premiums and Part A and Part B deductibles, the other bad news this past week was that the Social Security Administration announced that there would be no increase in Social Security benefits for 2010.