Please read and share with your clients!
2019 has new (lower) thresholds for higher-income beneficiaries. Lower is not a good thing. The basic Part B premium went from $134 per month to $135.50 per month. All other threshold Part B and Part D premiums also increased. Additionally, they created two new thresholds with higher premiums.
Click here to view the rates.
You cannot avoid the issue by filing “married filing separately”. They added a threshold for this filing status. So if you file “Married Separately” with a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) between $85,000 and $415,000 you pay $433.40 per month. If your MAGI is above $415,000 you pay $460.50 per month.
Don’t forget : These increased premiums for 2019 can be appealed and lowered for a “life-changing event,” the most common of which is loss of earnings. If high earnings from 2017 are no longer available because someone retired from their job or is self-employed, Social Security will lower the 2019 premiums based on your estimate of the 2019 Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). Other life-changing events are death of a spouse, divorce, marriage, loss of income producing property, reduction/loss of pension, and/or employer settlement.
REMEMBER: Your adjusted gross income affects your Medicare Part B and Part D premiums two years later (2019 AGI Affects 2021 premiums).
Please see the guide to Medicare premiums for higher income beneficiaries at www.Medicare.gov for the all the premium changes in 2019, or you can email me for a copy of the new rates.
Dennis Heywood, Social Security Solutions LLC
sshelp01@icloud.com | 513-235-8036 | SS-help.com
About Social Security Solutions LLC
Social Security Solutions provides direction, assistance, and information to financial advisers, couples, and individuals concerning Social Security retirement strategies, as well as survivor, disability, and Medicare issues. Services include pre-retirement Social Security analysis for individuals and couples; assisting individuals filing online claims for retirement, disability, and Medicare; conducting Social Security strategy presentations for financial/ health care advisors, businesses, and their employees.