What Is Medicare Part B?

Medicare Part B is the component of Medicare that covers your preventive care and doctor visits. All outpatient services, including outpatient surgery, diagnostic tests, and medical equipment also fall under the Part B umbrella.

If you’re not dealing with an inpatient stay, a hospice stay, or buying prescription drugs, then your health issues will probably involve Part B.

Terms to Know

Outpatient Care: You’re an outpatient when you use medical services without being admitted to a hospital.

Original Medicare: Part A is “hospital insurance”, while Part B is “medical insurance.” Part A and Part B insurance make up the combined product known as Original Medicare. This is the program run by the government since 1966, which provides healthcare to Americans with disabilities and people ages 65 and older.

You’ll need to have Part A and Part B in order to receive private Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement benefits.

Assignment: When a doctor accepts “assignment,” they’ve agreed to accept the Medicare-approved amount as full payment for covered services.

The Four “Parts” Of Medicare

Medicare is divided into four different parts, designated by letters A, B, C, and D.

1. Medicare Part A is hospital insurance. It covers hospital stays and services provided by skilled nursing facilities, as well as home health care and hospice.
2. Medicare Part B is outpatient medical insurance. Part B coverage applies whenever you see your doctor or receive outpatient care, preventive services, ambulance services, or durable medical equipment.
3. Medicare Part C, known as “Medicare Advantage,” provides coverage to beneficiaries through private insurance companies, contracted by the federal government.
4. Medicare Part D provides prescription drug coverage.

What Does Medicare Part B Cover?

You’ll rely on Medicare Part B for your basic medical needs – including doctor’s visits, laboratory tests, medical equipment, and acupuncture.

1. You Can See A Doctor.

• Meet Your Physician: Doctor visits are generally covered by Part B. You don’t need to choose a single primary care physician like you may be used to in traditional health insurance plans. Of course, you can see the same doctor regularly, if you like. Whether or not they call themselves a GP, internist, family doctor, or physician, there’s no limit to the number of medically necessary visits you can schedule.
• Lab Tests: If your outpatient doctor prescribes a medically necessary diagnostic test for you, it will be covered. Part B includes x-rays, urine samples, blood work, and any diagnostic tests.
• Second Opinions: If you’d like to learn more about a medical issue, Part B will cover the costs of a second (or third) opinion from a different doctor. If your new doctor needs to run tests to make an independent diagnosis, those tests are also covered by Part B.
• You Can See a Specialist: You can generally visit any medical professional without a referral, as long as they participate in Medicare. Part B covers dermatologists, neurologists, rheumatologists, and any other specialist from A to Z.
• Surgery: Same-day surgeries are covered by Part B (longer hospital stays are covered by Part A). It’s still a Part B expense if you’re kept at a hospital overnight for observation (instead of a full-fledged inpatient stay). Common medical supplies that you’ll get after surgery, such as crutches, are also covered by Part B.

2. Preventive Care: Part B typically only covers the following preventive services if they’re from a medical provider who accepts assignment.

• Screenings: Part B covers the entire cost of screening visits for dozens of common medical conditions. You’re also entitled to receive a full wellness visit once per year, free of charge.
• Flu Shots and Vaccines: Flu shots, pneumococcal shots, and hepatitis B shots are covered by Part B with no copay. Part B also covers vaccines directly related to treating an injury or direct exposure to a disease or condition. Currently, COVID-19 vaccines are covered by Part B; however, this could change when the emergency period ends in May 2023.

3. Some Prescriptions: While you can’t rely on Part B to cover most prescription drugs outside of the hospital, certain lifesaving drugs for the maintenance of chronic conditions are covered by Part B. Some medications for diabetes, hemophilia, organ transplants, and other conditions will also be covered by Part B depending on your specific condition. Generally speaking, drugs you wouldn’t usually give to yourself, like those you get at a doctor’s office or hospital outpatient setting, are covered under Part B. 

4. Mental Health:

• Counseling Services: Counseling and therapy sessions are covered by Part B. Treatment can be provided by a psychologist, social worker, doctor, or nurse specialist, as long as the provider accepts assignment.
• Day Services: Group therapy and outpatient services in a hospital or community mental health center are also covered by Part B. Additionally, Part B covers structured programs of partial hospitalization.
• Diagnostic Services: Preventive screening and psychiatric medication management visits are covered by Part B as well.

5. Medical Equipment: Durable medical equipment (DME) will be covered by Part B if it comes with a doctor’s prescription. Part B can pay for canes, commode chairs, glucose monitors, hospital beds, walkers, or other homecare devices.

6. Ambulance Services: Part B will cover your ambulance costs when you’ve had a sudden medical emergency or cannot be transported safely by other means. However, Part B does not cover medical transportation for routine care

7. Clinical Research Studies: Part B will cover doctor and drug costs for you to participate in medically relevant medical trials. It will also cover the costs of any complications if they arise.

What Is Not Covered by Medicare Part B?

1. Long-term Care: Services that help you perform basic tasks, whether through a caregiver or a stay in a nursing home, are generally not covered by Medicare.

2. Hearing Aids: Hearing aids and most audiology services are not covered by Original Medicare.

3. Dental Care: The vast majority of dental care – including cleanings, fillings, dentures, and tooth removal – is not covered by Original Medicare.

4. Glasses: Original Medicare will not pay for your glasses or related eye exam. Cataract surgery and other vision care expenses are generally covered by Part B.

5. Less Common Medical Services: Less common expenses that some health plans cover – such as cosmetic surgery, corn removal, and travel between appointments – are also not included in Part B coverage.

How Much Does Medicare Part B Cost?

Premium (cost per month): The standard Medicare Part B premium in 2023 is $164.90 per month.

If you are not receiving Social Security benefits, Medicare sends a bill every three months. If you are receiving Social Security, your Medicare premiums are taken out automatically by Social Security. 

Medicare will use your tax return from 2 years ago to determine whether you are a higher-income beneficiary. If your income as reported two years ago was over $97,000 if you file singly, or $194,000, if filing jointly, you could pay more this year. Consult a financial or tax advisor who can help you figure out whether there is anything you can do. This program is officially known as IRMAA, which stands for Income-related Monthly Adjustment Amount.

Medicare Part B Adjustments for Higher-income Beneficiaries (or IRMAA)
If your individual modified adjusted gross income in 2021 was:	If your joint modified adjusted gross income in 2021 was:	If your “Married filing separately” modified adjusted gross income was:	Then your monthly premium is (the standard Part B premium + higher-income adjustment):
$97,000 or less	$194,000 or less	$97,000 or less	$164.90
above $97,000 up to $123,000	above $194,000 up to $246,000	Not applicable	$230.80
above $123,000 up to $153,000	above $246,000 up to $306,000	Not applicable	$329.70
above $153,000 up to $183,000	above $306,000 up to $366,000	Not applicable	$428.60
above $183,000 and less than $500,000	above $366,000 and less than $750,000	between $97,000 and $403,000	$527.50
above $500,000	above $750,000	above $403,000	$560.50
Source: U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Deductible: Part B enrollees contribute a once-a-year deductible of $226 before Part B pays for services in 2023.

Coinsurance: Without a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement plan, you’ll generally be responsible for 20 percent of your Part B costs after your deductible is reached.

Late Enrollment Penalty: You’ll want to enroll in Part B when first eligible. Otherwise, if you wait to enroll, your premiums will rise by 10% per year that you skip enrollment, for the beneficiary’s life.

How Does Medicare Part B Interact with Other Medicare Programs?

Part B and Medicare Supplement (Medigap):

Medicare Supplement plans cover costs not paid for by your existing Original Medicare coverage. The plans have generous benefits overseen by the government but run by private companies. For example, all Medigap policies sold in the U.S. will even cover your Part B 20% coinsurance! If you’d like to buy a Medigap policy, applying as soon as possible is important.

You may have heard about Medigap plans, including “Medicare Plan B.” Part B differs from Plan B. A “part” involves the Federal program, while a “plan” is one of several Medigap options.

Part B and Medicare Advantage (Part C):

Part C (Medicare Advantage) is a privately-run replacement for Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). You cannot have a Medigap policy and Part C simultaneously, and it can be difficult to switch back and forth. Part C premiums are less than Original Medicare with a Medigap policy, and Part C may cover additional services. But it has special rules and smaller doctor networks. Also, anyone with medical issues can reach the plan’s out-of-pocket maximum, which could exceed costs with Medicare Supplement. Consult with an expert before choosing. 

Prescription drug coverage:

Depending on your medication needs, a Part D drug plan may be an important extension of your Original Medicare coverage. Since 2006, Medicare Supplements have not covered prescription drugs, although many Part C plans do.

Who Is Eligible for Medicare Part B Coverage?

For those 65 Years and Older

The main group for which Medicare was set up. To qualify, you’ll need to fulfill two requirements:

1. You must be 65 years old.
2. You must have been a U.S. citizen or permanent resident for over 5 years.

For those 65 Years and Younger

There are few cases where people under the age of 65 are eligible to get Medicare benefits. To qualify, you’ll need to belong to one of three groups:

1. You’re permanently disabled and you’ve received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for at least the last two years; OR
2. You’re suffering from end-stage renal disease (ESRD)/end-stage kidney disease and need to undergo continuous dialysis or need a kidney transplant; OR
3. You receive Social Security disability benefits for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)/Lou Gehrig’s disease.

How Do I Enroll in Medicare Part B?

To get on Medicare Part B, check to see if you will be automatically enrolled in Original Medicare.

If you’re not automatically enrolled, you can go on Medicare Part A and Part B with the help of Social Security.

Special Part B Enrollment Circumstances:

• If you live in Puerto Rico and you’re already receiving Social Security or disability benefits when you turn 65 years old, you will only be enrolled in Part A automatically. You will need to apply for Part B coverage on your own.
• If you aren’t receiving Social Security when you turn 65 years old, your enrollment in Medicare isn’t automatic – you will need to apply for Part A and B coverage.

Enrollment Periods: When Can I Sign Up for Medicare Part B?

Initial Enrollment Period

Suppose you aren’t receiving Social Security and don’t have health insurance through an employer (either your own or your spouse’s) upon turning 65. In that case, you must enroll in Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP).

• The IEP is a seven-month period; the fourth month being the one in which you turn 65.
• You can enroll in Medicare starting up to three months before your 65th birthday and your window to sign up ends three months following your 65th birthday. (eg. If your 65th birthday is April 20, your IEP begins January 20 and ends July 20)
  • Your Part B coverage will be delayed if you wait until the month you turn 65, or later, to enroll.

Special Enrollment Period

Suppose you delayed Medicare enrollment after turning 65 because you were insured through an employer for whom you or your spouse was still actively working. In that case, you need to sign up for Medicare during a Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

• The SEP allows you to sign up for Medicare starting at any point before your or your spouse’s employment ends, up until eight months following your (or your spouse’s) retirement.
• If you are younger than 65 and lose employer-sponsored health coverage when your older spouse retires and signs up for Medicare, you must find separate coverage for yourself.

General Enrollment Period

If you declined to enroll in Part B when you were first eligible, and don’t qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, you can sign up during a General Enrollment Period.

• The General Enrollment Period lasts from January 1 through March 31.
• You’ll sign up using the same process as a first-time Medicare enrollee, but you may have to pay higher premiums for delaying coverage. Part B coverage will take effect on July 1. 

Taking the Next Steps

If you’re looking for a little more coverage, consider adding a Medicare Supplement plan to your Medicare coverage, or using Medicare Advantage instead. These can help ease your remaining out-of-pocket medical costs.