As many beneficiaries may know, there are multiple interconnected parts that make up Medicare as a whole. Each of these parts may have premiums, in which most people do not receive a bill in the mail notifying them of their expenses. For many people, premiums are paid directly from their Social Security retirement benefits, however there are certain exceptions resulting in Medicare bills to be paid manually. There are different ways to pay, but the most common way is online and with a credit card.
Which Parts of Original Medicare Send a Bill?
You will always pay a premium for Original Medicare which includes Part A (inpatient hospital services) and Part B (outpatient medical services). Which ones send you a bill depends on several factors and your own personal work history.
Medicare Part A: If you worked for at least 40 quarters, which is 10 years, you typically receive Medicare Part A without paying a premium. Therefore, you will not receive a bill for Medicare Part A. If you did not work this requisite amount of time, you will have a premium and the amount will depend on your work history. You will receive a bill.
Medicare Part B: For 2022, most people pay a standard $170.10 premium. Those who have a higher annual income will pay an additional amount which is referred to as an “income-related monthly adjustment amount” or IRMAA. This amount is added on to the monthly premium. The amount of IRMAA depends on your annual income.
Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage): This is a private plan offered by various health insurance companies. Each plan is different. You will need to check with your specific insurance carrier to see if they offer online payment options for your premium.
Medicare Part D: This is a plan offered you by private insurance companies. Whether you can pay this premium online depends on the policy of each individual insurance company.
Medigap Plans: Medigap plans are offered by private insurance companies. Like Parts C and D, whether you can pay your premium online depends on the individual insurance company.
What Are My Medicare Payment Options?
You can choose from four different ways to pay your Medicare premium:
- Charge the premium to your credit or debit card.
- Have a monthly automatic electronic bank transfer.
- Have the premium automatically deducted from your Social Security retirement benefit.
- Mail a monthly check for the premium amount to Medicare.
If the plan is offered to you through a private insurance company, you will need to check with the company about its payment policies.
How do I Pay my Medicare Premium Online with a Debit or Credit Card?
To pay any part of your Medicare premium online with a credit or debit card, you must follow these steps:
- First set up an account online. You can do this at the official Medicare.gov website.
- You will need to provide the site with your Medicare number and the original start date of your Medicare Part A. This information is provided for you on your Medicare card.
- When you log in, you will see a selection labeled “My Premiums.” Choose that and click on “Pay Now.” Enter the amount due, and you will be redirected to the U.S. Treasury’s pay site to complete your payment.
Some Medicare billing information that is helpful for you to know includes but is not limited to the fact that you may receive a statement that looks like a bill but is only a summary of services you were provided. If your premium is paid from your Social Security retirement account, you may not get a bill. It may look like a bill but look at the top right-hand corner of the document you receive. If it says, “This is not a bill,” then it is not a bill.
How do I Pay my Medicare Premium with a Credit Card Through the Mail?
To pay any part of your Medicare Premium through the mail you may follow these steps:
- When you receive your premium bill that has a request for payment, it may also include a payment coupon.
- It will have an option for you to enter your credit card number, expiration date, and billing zip code on the coupon. You will need to sign the coupon.
- There should also be a pre-addressed envelope in with the bill. If you misplace the envelope, mail the coupon to:
Medicare Premium Collection Center
P.O. Box 790355
St. Louis, MO 63179-0355.
Pay by Medicare Easy Pay
Another easy way to pay your Medicare premiums is to establish a Medicare Easy Pay Account. Provide the requested information and note the following:
- On the 20thof every month, your premium amount will most likely be automatically deducted from your bank account.
- It may take about 6- 8 weeks after your request for Medicare to get this payment plan set-up. Meanwhile, you may need to pay your premiums another way.
- If for some reason Medicare is unable to set up automatic deduct from your bank account, it will most likely send you a letter informing you of this.
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