Medicare's Open Enrollment Period — which runs from October 15 through December 7 — is your annual opportunity to switch your current Medicare health and prescription drug plans to ones that better suit your needs. Just in time for Open Enrollment, 2023 Medicare premiums, deductibles, and other costs have been announced, and surprisingly, some of these costs are lower than last year.
What to Consider
Start by reviewing any materials your plan has sent you. Look at the coverage offered, the costs, and the network of providers, which may differ from last year. Maybe your health has changed, or you anticipate needing medical care or new or pricier prescription drugs. You can make changes if your current plan doesn't meet your healthcare needs or fit your budget. But if you're satisfied with what you currently have, you don't need to do anything. The coverage you have will continue.
During Open Enrollment, you can:
Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan
Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan to Original Medicare
Change from one Medicare Advantage Plan to a different Medicare Advantage Plan
Change from a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers prescription drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn't offer prescription drug coverage
Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn't offer prescription drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that does offer prescription drug coverage
Join a Medicare prescription drug plan (Part D)
Switch from one Part D plan to another Part D plan
Drop your Part D coverage altogether
Any changes made during Open Enrollment are effective as of January 1, 2023.
Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) costs for 2023
Most people with Medicare who receive Social Security benefits will pay the standard monthly Part B premium of $164.90 in 2023. This premium is $5.20 lower than in 2022 due to lower-than-projected spending for a new drug, Aduhelm, and other Part B items and services. (1)
People with higher incomes may pay more than the standard premium. Suppose your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), as reported on your federal income tax return from two years ago (2021), is above a certain amount. In that case, you'll pay the standard premium amount and an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA), an extra charge added to your premium, as shown in the following table.
People with higher incomes may also pay a higher premium for a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan because an IRMAA will be added to the Part D basic premium based on the same income limits in the table above. Part D premiums vary, but the average basic monthly premium for 2023 is projected to be $31.50 (down from $32.08 in 2022).
People with Medicare Part B must also satisfy an annual deductible before Original Medicare starts to pay. For 2023, this deductible is $226 (down from $233 in 2022).
*This premium applies to a new benefit that extends coverage for immunosuppressive drugs for people who qualify for Medicare coverage due to end-stage renal disease. Before 2023, Medicare coverage, including immunosuppressive drug coverage, ended 36 months after a successful kidney transplant. Beginning January 1, 2023, Medicare will offer a new benefit that will help continue to pay for immunosuppressive drugs beyond 36 months for people who don't have other health coverage. It does not cover additional items or services. The rates shown apply to people who file individual or joint tax returns. Premiums for beneficiaries filing as married filing separately are different.
Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) costs for 2023
Part A deductible for inpatient hospitalization: $1,600 per benefit period (up from $1,556 in 2022)
Part A premium for those who need to buy coverage: up to $506 per month (up from $499 in 2022) — most people don't pay a premium for Medicare Part A
Part A coinsurance: $400 per day for days 61 through 90, and $800 per "lifetime reserve day" after day 90, up to a 60-day lifetime maximum (up from $389 and $778 in 2022)
Part A skilled nursing facility coinsurance: $200 for days 21 through 100 for each benefit period (up from $194.50 in 2022)
1) The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2022