Do I still pay my Medicare Part B premium if I enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan with a $0 premium?
Yes. A requirement for joining any Medicare
Advantage plan is that you have both Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B
coverage. So if you join a Medicare Advantage plan you must continue to pay your monthly Medicare Part B premiums - even if you join a Medicare Advantage plan with a $0 premium.
Annual changes in Medicare Part B premiums and Hold Harmless clause
The Medicare Part B premium can change each year, but the changes may not affect you. If you are not affected by the monthly Part B premium increases, you are said to fall under the "Hold Harmless" clause. The "Hold Harmless" clause states that your Medicare Part B premium cannot increase more than your COLA increase -- so that you are effectively paying the same amount each year because your COLA increase will at least cover your Medicare Part B premium increase.
Medicare Part B beneficiaries NOT protected under the "hold harmless" provision are:
- people not collecting Social Security benefits,
- people who are enrolling in Part B for the first time in that year,
- dual eligible Medicare/Medicaid beneficiaries who have their premiums paid by Medicaid, and
- Medicare beneficiaries who pay an additional income-related premium (IRMAA).
People who are affected by the increase in Medicare Part B premiums
account for about 30 percent of the expected to be enrolled in Medicare
Part B.
As an example, in 2024, the Medicare Part B premium is
$164.90
for most people. But, for people who are NOT under the "hold harmless" provision, the Medicare Part B premium will be $174.70.