Seniors enrolled in Medicare will pay more in 2025, as premiums in Part B climb by 6% because of upticks in underlying prices and the use of health services.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says the standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B enrollees will be $185 in 2025, an increase of $10.30 from $174.70 for this calendar year.
The annual deductible for Part B beneficiaries will be $257 in 2025 — an increase of $17 from $240 in 2024.
Medicare Part B covers doctors’ services, outpatient hospital care and preventive services like vaccinations. It is separate from the prescription-drug benefit in Medicare, known as Part D.
“The increase in the 2025 Part B standard premium and deductible is mainly due to projected price changes and assumed utilization increases that are consistent with historical experience,” CMS said.
Higher premiums will be eating into seniors’ bottom lines, because the rate of increase outpaces both inflation and the Social Security cost-of-living adjustments, or COLAs.
Inflation rose 2.6% on an annual basis in October, and the COLA for 2025 is 2.5%.
Part B premiums are based on income in some cases, so wealthier persons will pay more than lower-income enrollees.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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