Hey Medicare Nation! It's October! Lots of changes going on in the Medicare landscape. Social Security recently announced the 2019 COLA, and for those of you on Social Security and Social Security Disability, you will be receiving a 2.8% raise in your monthly check. Social Security raise goes into effect January 1, 2019. Social Securtiy Disbility goies into effect December 31, 2018. Some more good news is.....the payroll taxes for Medicare & Social Security are staying the same in 2019. Yeah!! The combined tax rate for Social Security & Medicare will remain at 7.65% in 2019 for employees. The combined tax rate for Self Employed will also remain the same in 2019 at 15.30% When Social Security authorizes a COLA raise, that is the signal that Medicare Part B Premiums may also rise. For 2019, that's exactly what happened. Let's take a look at the 2019 Medicare Premiums & Deductibles. Medicare Part A In 2019, the Medicare Part A Deductible for being an inpatient in the hospital is going up to $1,364.00 in 2019. This means, you will have an out-of-pocket deductible when you are admitted to the hospital as an inpatient, whether you stay for one night or sixty consequative nights. You will have to pay the $1,364.00 each time you are admitted to the hospital, unless you are readmitted to the hospital less than 60 days after you are discharged from the hospital and you are admitted for the exact same reason.  SNF A Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) has 24hr Medical care and specializes in rehabilliation. A person who had a stroke may be transferred to a SNF, to rehab the loss of sensation in a limb or to improve speech. A person who recently had hip replacement surgery may be transferred to a SNF to strengthen their leg(s) and learn to walk with a proper gait. Under Medicare, the first twenty days in a SNF is a benefit with no co-pay. If a person is required to stay day 21 and up to 100 consequative days, the co-pay will be $170.50 per day in 2019, under Medicare Part A. Medicare Part B Every person, who is a member of Medicare Part B has a monthly premium. For those with an income below the Federal threshold, the Medicare Part B Premium is paid by that individual's State Medicaid Program. For individuals on Medicare Part B, whose annual adjusted gross income is $85,000.00 or less, filing as a single taxpayer, the 2019 Medicare Part B monthly premium will be $135.50 Here is the chart for Medicare beneficiaries with a higher income, who will pay a higher Part B Premium Monthly.   Beneficiaries who file individual tax returns with income: who make Less than or equal to $85,000             $135.50 Married, filing joint returns & make less than or equal to $170,000                                                          $135.50 Beneficiaries who file individual tax returns with income: who make Greater than $85,000 and less than or equal to $107,000                                                          $189.60 Married, filing joint returns & make Greater than $170,000 and less than or equal to $214,000                     $189.60 Beneficiaries who file individual tax returns with income: who make Greater than $107,000 and less than or equal to $133,500                                                         $270.90 Married, filing joint returns & make Greater than $214,000 and less than or equal to $267,000                    $270.90 Beneficiaries who file individual tax returns with income: who make Greater than $133,500 and less than or equal to $160,000                                                         $352.20 Married, filing joint returns & make Greater than $267,000 and less than or equal to $320,000                    $352.20 Beneficiaries who file individual tax returns with income: who make Greater than $160,000 and less than or equal to $500,000                                                         $433.40 Married, filing joint returns & make Greater than $320,000 and less than or equal to $750,000                     $433