Do employers pay for Medicare Part B?

Asked by: Enoch Bauch  |  Last update: June 12, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (70 votes)

Employers can reimburse any Medicare Part B and Part D premiums for employees who are actively working. This requires the company's payment plan to integrate with the group insurance plan.

Do I have to pay for Medicare Part B if I am still working?

No if you have employer insurance you can avoid taking on part B as long as you like to age 75 if still working however in 99.5 % of the cases you are better paying the $144.50 part B premium and opting out of your group coverage continue to work ...

Who pays Medicare Part B Premium?

Part B helps pay for your doctors' services and outpatient care. It also covers other medical services, such as physical and occupational therapy, and some home health care. For most beneficiaries, the government pays a substantial portion — about 75% — of the Part B premium, and the beneficiary pays the remaining 25%.

Can you have Medicare Part B and employer insurance at the same time?

Can I combine employer health insurance with Medicare? If you or your spouse are working and covered through an employer, you can also decide to keep this coverage and enroll in Original Medicare, Part A and/or Part B to get additional health coverage.

Do employers have to pay Medicare?

Employers generally must withhold Social Security and Medicare taxes from employees' wages and pay the employer share of these taxes. Social security and Medicare taxes have different rates and only the Social Security tax has a wage base limit.

Medicare & Employer Coverage | Should You Enroll In Part B?

22 related questions found

Can my employer pay my Medicare Part B premium?

Employers can reimburse any Medicare Part B and Part D premiums for employees who are actively working. This requires the company's payment plan to integrate with the group insurance plan.

How much does an employer pay into Medicare?

The current tax rate for Social Security is 6.2% for the employer and 6.2% for the employee, or 12.4% total. The current rate for Medicare is 1.45% for the employer and 1.45% for the employee, or 2.9% total. Refer to Publication 15 (Circular E), Employer's Tax Guide for more information.

Is Medicare Part B free at age 65?

Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) is free for almost everyone. You have to pay a monthly premium for Medicare Part B (medical insurance). If you already have other health insurance when you become eligible for Medicare, you may wonder if it's worth the monthly premium costs to sign up for Part B.

Is Medicare cheaper than employer insurance?

This is unique for every plan, but generally speaking, Medicare tends to provide more benefits than employer coverage at a lower cost. If you have a high-premium or high-deductible plan through your employer (or your spouse's employer), switching to Medicare may be more cost-effective.

Is Medicare Part B mandatory?

Part B is optional. Part B helps pay for covered medical services and items when they are medically necessary. Part B also covers some preventive services like exams, lab tests, and screening shots to help prevent, find, or manage a medical problem.

Does everyone pay $170 for Medicare Part B?

Most people pay no premiums for Part A. For Medicare Part B in 2025, most beneficiaries will pay $185 per month. Certain factors may require you to pay more or less than the standard Medicare Part B premium in 2025.

Can I refuse to pay for Medicare Part B?

You do not have to pay for Medicare Part B to keep Medi-Cal. Stopping Medicare Part B coverage is generally not recommended. If you want to talk to someone about stopping Medicare Part B, call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213. NOTE: A few things could happen if you do not pay your Medicare Part B premium.

Why is Social Security no longer paying Medicare Part B?

There could be several reasons why Social Security stopped withholding your Medicare Part B premium. One common reason is that your income has exceeded the threshold for premium assistance. Another reason could be that there was a mistake or error in your records.

Is Medicare Part B based on your salary?

If your modified adjusted gross income as reported on your IRS tax return from 2 years ago is above a certain amount, you'll pay the standard Part B premium and an income-related monthly adjustment amount.

How to switch from employer health insurance to Medicare Part B?

You can use an SEP to enroll in Medicare Part B while you're still in a group health plan based on current employment. Also, if your employment ends or employer- provided medical coverage ends, you have eight months from that month (whichever comes first) to sign up for Medicare Part B.

Why would you decline Medicare Part B?

Some people do not take Part B during their Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) because they have primary insurance from their current employer or their spouse's current employer. The IEP is the first time you can sign up for Medicare.

What is the alternative to Medicare Part B?

Part C (Medicare Advantage)

Part C is known as Medicare Advantage. It's an alternative to Parts A and B that bundles several coverage types, including Parts A, B, and usually D. It may also include: Vision.

Can you have both Medicare and employer insurance?

Your employer may offer coverage when you have Medicare, like a supplemental plan, drug coverage, or Medicare Advantage Plan. If they do, ask if you or your family will lose your retiree coverage if you join a plan the employer doesn't offer.

Is it a good idea to get Medicare if you're still working at 65?

If your or your spouse's employer has 20 or more employees and a group health plan, you don't have to sign up for Medicare at 65. But if you get Medicare Part A for free, typically you should sign up. (After all, it's free.) In some cases, Medicare Part A may cover what your employer plan doesn't.

Is it possible to get Medicare Part B for free?

Part B is a voluntary program that requires the payment of a monthly premium for all parts of coverage. Eligibility rules for Part B depend on whether a person is eligible for premium-free Part A or whether the individual has to pay a premium for Part A coverage.

Who pays for Medicare Part B?

The State of California participates in a buy-in agreement with CMS, whereby Medi-Cal automatically pays Medicare Part B premiums for all Medi-Cal members who have Medicare Part B entitlement as reported by SSA.

Do I automatically get Medicare Part B when I turn 65?

If you are approaching age 65 and you already receive Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits through early retirement, you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Parts A (hospital insurance) and B (medical insurance) when you turn 65.

At what age do you stop paying Medicare taxes?

You are eligible for premium-free Medicare Part A if you are age 65 or older and you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years.

Why is Social Security taxed twice?

“This is simply a way for Congress to obtain more revenue for the federal government at the expense of seniors who have already paid into Social Security.

What is the maximum Social Security benefit?

The maximum benefit depends on the age you retire. For example, if you retire at full retirement age in 2025, your maximum benefit would be $4,018. However, if you retire at age 62 in 2025, your maximum benefit would be $2,831. If you retire at age 70 in 2025, your maximum benefit would be $5,108.