AMOUNTS OF PREMIUMS

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Sec. 1839. [42 U.S.C. 1395r] (a)(1) The Secretary shall, during September of 1983 and of each year thereafter, determine the monthly actuarial rate for enrollees age 65 and over which shall be applicable for the succeeding calendar year. Subject to paragraphs (5) and (6), such actuarial rate shall be the amount the Secretary estimates to be necessary so that the aggregate amount for such calendar year with respect to those enrollees age 65 and older will equal one-half of the total of the benefits and administrative costs which he estimates will be payable from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund for services performed and related administrative costs incurred in such calendar year with respect to such enrollees^[202]. In calculating the monthly actuarial rate, the Secretary shall include an appropriate amount for a contingency margin. In applying this paragraph there shall not be taken into account additional payments under section 1848(o) and section 1853(l)(3) and the Government contribution under section 1844(a)(3).

(2) The monthly premium of each individual enrolled under this part for each month after December 1983 shall be the amount determined under paragraph (3). adjusted as required in accordance with subsections (b), (c), (f), and (i) of this section, and to reflect any credit provided under section 1854(b)(1)(C)(ii)(III).

(3) The Secretary, during September of each year, shall determine and promulgate a monthly premium rate for the succeeding calendar year that (except as provided in subsection (g)) is equal to 50 percent of the monthly actuarial rate for enrollees age 65 and over, determined according to paragraph (1), for that succeeding calendar year.

Whenever the Secretary promulgates the dollar amount which shall be applicable as the monthly premium rate for any period, he shall, at the time such promulgation is announced, issue a public statement setting forth the actuarial assumptions and bases employed by him in arriving at the amount of an adequate actuarial rate for enrollees age 65 and older as provided in paragraph (1).

(4) The Secretary shall also, during September of 1983 and of each year thereafter, determine the monthly actuarial rate for disabled enrollees under age 65 which shall be applicable for the succeeding calendar year. Such actuarial rate shall be the amount the Secretary estimates to be necessary so that the aggregate amount for such calendar year with respect to disabled enrollees under age 65 will equal one-half of the total of the benefits and administrative costs which he estimates will be payable from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund for services performed and related administrative costs incurred in such calendar year with respect to such enrollees. In calculating the monthly actuarial rate under this paragraph, the Secretary shall include an appropriate amount for a contingency margin.

(5)[203](A) In applying this part (including subsection (i) and section 1833(b)), the monthly actuarial rate for enrollees age 65 and over for 2016 shall be determined as if subsection (f) did not apply. ^[204]

(B) Subsection (f) shall continue to be applied to paragraph (6)(A) (during a repayment month, as described in paragraph (6)(B)) and without regard to the application of subparagraph (A).

(6)[205](A) With respect to a repayment month (as described in subparagraph (B)), the monthly premium otherwise established under paragraph (3) shall be increased by, subject to subparagraph (D), $3.

(B)[206] For purposes of this paragraph, a repayment month is a month during a year, beginning with 2016, for which a balance due amount is computed under subparagraph (C) as greater than zero.

(C) For purposes of this paragraph, the balance due amount computed under this subparagraph, with respect to a month, is the amount estimated by the Chief Actuary of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to be equal to—

(i) the amount transferred under section 1844(d)(1); plus

(ii) the amount that is equal to the aggregate reduction, for all individuals enrolled under this part, in the income related monthly adjustment amount as a result of the application of paragraph (5); minus

(iii) the amounts payable under this part as a result of the application of this paragraph for preceding months.

(D) If the balance due amount computed under subparagraph (C), without regard to this subparagraph, for December of a year would be less than zero, the Chief Actuary of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services shall estimate, and the Secretary shall apply, a reduction to the dollar amount increase applied under subparagraph (A) for each month during such year in a manner such that the balance due amount for January of the subsequent year is equal to zero.

(b) In the case of an individual whose coverage period began pursuant to an enrollment after his initial enrollment period (determined pursuant to subsection (c) or (d) of section ) and not pursuant to a special enrollment period under subsection (i)(4) or (l)of section 1837, the monthly premium determined under subsection (a) (without regard to any adjustment under subsection (i)) shall be increased by 10 percent of the monthly premium so determined for each full 12 months (in the same continuous period of eligibility) in which he could have been but was not enrolled. For purposes of the preceding sentence, there shall be taken into account (1) the months which elapsed between the close of his initial enrollment period and the close of the enrollment period in which he enrolled, plus (in the case of an individual who reenrolls) (2) the months which elapsed between the date of termination of a previous coverage period and the close of the enrollment period in which he reenrolled, but there shall not be taken into account months for which the individual can demonstrate that the individual was enrolled in a group health plan described in section 1862(b)(1)(A)(v) by reason of the individual’s (or the individual’s spouse’s) current employment status or months during which the individual has not attained the age of 65 and for which the individual can demonstrate that the individual was enrolled in a large group health plan (as that term is defined in section 1862(b)(1)(B)(iii)) by reason of the individual’s current employment status (or the current employment status of a family member of the individual) or months for which the individual can demonstrate that the individual was and individual described in section 1837(k)(3). Any increase in an individual’s monthly premium under the first sentence of this subsection with respect to a particular continuous period of eligibility shall not be applicable with respect to any other continuous period of eligibility which such individual may have. No increase in the premium shall be effected for a month in the case of an individual who enrolls under this part during 2001, 2002, 2003, or 2004 and who demonstrates to the Secretary before December 31, 2004, that the individual is a covered beneficiary (as defined in section 1072(5) of title 10, United States Code). The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall consult with the Secretary of Defense in identifying individuals described in the previous sentence.

(c) If any monthly premium determined under the foregoing provisions of this section is not a multiple of 10 cents, such premium shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of 10 cents.

(d) For purposes of subsection (b) (and section 1837(g)(1)), an individual’s “continuous period of eligibility” is the period beginning with the first day on which he is eligible to enroll under section 1836 and ending with his death; except that any period during all of which an individual satisfied paragraph (1) of section 1836 and which terminated in or before the month preceding the month in which he attained age 65 shall be a separate “continuous period of eligibility” with respect to such individual (and each such period which terminates shall be deemed not to have existed for purposes of subsequently applying this section).

(e)(1) Upon the request of a State (or any appropriate State or local governmental entity specified by the Secretary), the Secretary may enter into an agreement with the State (or such entity) under which the State (or such entity) agrees to pay on a quarterly or other periodic basis to the Secretary (to be deposited in the Treasury to the credit of the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund) an amount equal to the amount of the part B late enrollment premium increases with respect to the premiums for eligible individuals (as defined in paragraph (3)(A)).

(2) No part B late enrollment premium increase shall apply to an eligible individual for premiums for months for which the amount of such an increase is payable under an agreement under paragraph (1).

(3) In this subsection:

(A) The term “eligible individual” means an individual who is enrolled under this part B and who is within a class of individuals specified in the agreement under paragraph (1).

(B) The term “part B late enrollment premium increase” means any increase in a premium as a result of the application of subsection (b).

(f) For any calendar year after 1988, if an individual is entitled to monthly benefits under section 202 or 223 or to a monthly annuity under section 3(a), 4(a), or 4(f) of the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974^[207] for November and December of the preceding year, if the monthly premium of the individual under this section for December and for January is deducted from those benefits under section 1840(a)(1) or section 1840(b)(1), and if the amount of the individual’s premium is not adjusted for such January under subsection (i), the monthly premium otherwise determined under this section for an individual for that year shall not be increased, pursuant to this subsection, to the extent that such increase would reduce the amount of benefits payable to that individual for that December below the amount of benefits payable to that individual for that November (after the deduction of the premium under this section). For purposes of this subsection, retroactive adjustments or payments and deductions on account of work shall not be taken into account in determining the monthly benefits to which an individual is entitled under section 202 or 223 or under the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974.

(g) In estimating the benefits and administrative costs which will be payable from the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund for a year for purposes of determining the monthly premium rate under subsection (a)(3), the Secretary shall exclude an estimate of any benefits and administrative costs attributable to—

(1) the application of section 1861(v)(1)(L)(viii) or to the establishment under section 1861(v)(1)(L)(i)(V) of a per visit limit at 106 percent of the median (instead of 105 percent of the median), but only to the extent payment for home health services under this title is not being made under section 1895 (relating to prospective payment for home health services); and

(2) the medicare prescription drug discount card and transitional assistance program under section 1860D-31

(h) Potential Application of Comparative Cost Adjustment in CCA Areas.—

(1) In general.—Certain individuals who are residing in a CCA area under section 1860C-1 who are not enrolled in an MA plan under part C may be subject to a premium adjustment under subsection (f) of such section for months in which the CCA program under such section is in effect in such area.

(2) No effect on late enrollment penalty or income-related adjustment in subsidies.—Nothing in this subsection or section 1860C-1(f) shall be construed as affecting the amount of any premium adjustment under subsection (b) or (i). Subsection (f) shall be applied without regard to any premium adjustment referred to in paragraph (1).

(3) Implementation.—In order to carry out a premium adjustment under this subsection and section 1860C-1(f) (insofar as it is effected through the manner of collection of premiums under section 1840(a)), the Secretary shall transmit to the Commissioner of Social Security—

(A) at the beginning of each year, the name, social security account number, and the amount of the premium adjustment (if any) for each individual enrolled under this part for each month during the year; and

(B) periodically throughout the year, information to update the information previously transmitted under this paragraph for the year.

(i) Reduction in Premium Subsidy Based on Income.—

(1) In general.—In the case of an individual whose modified adjusted gross income exceeds the threshold amount under paragraph (2), the monthly amount of the premium subsidy applicable to the premium under this section for a month after December 2006 shall be reduced (and the monthly premium shall be increased) by the monthly adjustment amount specified in paragraph (3).

(2) Threshold amount.—For purposes of this subsection, subject to paragraph (6), the threshold amount is—

(A) except as provided in subparagraph (B), $80,000 (or, beginning with 2018, $85,000), and^[208]

(B) in the case of a joint return, twice the amount applicable under subparagraph (A) for the calendar year.

(3) Monthly adjustment amount.—

(A) In general.—Subject to subparagraph (B), the monthly adjustment amount specified in this paragraph for an individual for a month in a year is equal to the product of the following:

(i) Sliding scale percentage.—Subject to paragraph (6), the applicable percentage specified in the applicable table in subparagraph (C) for the individual minus 25 percentage points.^[209]

(ii) Unsubsidized part b premium amount.—

(I) 200 percent of the monthly actuarial rate for enrollees age 65 and over (as determined under subsection (a)(1) for the year) plus

(II) 4 times the amount of the increase in the monthly premium under subsection (a)(6) for a month in the year.^[210]

(B) 3-year phase in.—The monthly adjustment amount specified in this paragraph for an individual for a month in a year before 2009 is equal to the following percentage of the monthly adjustment amount specified in subparagraph (A):

(i) For 2007, 33 percent.

(ii) For 2008, 67 percent.

(C) Applicable percentage.—

(i) In general.—

(I) Subject to paragraphs (5) and (6), for years before 2018:^[211]

(II) Subject to paragraph (5), for 2018: ^[212]

(III)^[213] Subject to paragraph (5), for years beginning with 2019:

(ii) Joint returns.—In the case of a joint return, clause (i) shall be applied by substituting dollar amounts which are twice the dollar amounts otherwise applicable under clause (i) for the calendar year except, with respect to the dollar amounts applied in the last row of the table under subclause (III) of such clause (and the second dollar amount specified in the second to last row of such table), clause (i) shall be applied by substituting dollar amounts which are 150 percent of such dollar amounts for the calendar year.^[214]

(iii) Married individuals filing separate returns.—In the case of an individual who—

(I) is married as of the close of the taxable year (within the meaning of section 7703 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) but does not file a joint return for such year, and

(II) does not live apart from such individual’s spouse at all times during the taxable year, clause (i) shall be applied by reducing each of the dollar amounts otherwise applicable under such clause for the calendar year by the threshold amount for such year applicable to an unmarried individual.

(4) Modified adjusted gross income.—

(A) In general.—For purposes of this subsection, the term “modified adjusted gross income” means adjusted gross income (as defined in section 62 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986)—

(i) determined without regard to sections 135, 911, 931, and 933 of such Code; and

(ii) increased by the amount of interest received or accrued during the taxable year which is exempt from tax under such Code. In the case of an individual filing a joint return, any reference in this subsection to the modified adjusted gross income of such individual shall be to such return’s modified adjusted gross income.

(B) Taxable year to be used in determining modified adjusted gross income.—

(i) In general.—In applying this subsection for an individual’s premiums in a month in a year, subject to clause (ii) and subparagraph (C), the individual’s modified adjusted gross income shall be such income determined for the individual’s last taxable year beginning in the second calendar year preceding the year involved.

(ii) Temporary use of other data.—If, as of October 15 before a calendar year, the Secretary of the Treasury does not have adequate data for an individual in appropriate electronic form for the taxable year referred to in clause (i), the individual’s modified adjusted gross income shall be determined using the data in such form from the previous taxable year. Except as provided in regulations prescribed by the Commissioner of Social Security in consultation with the Secretary, the preceding sentence shall cease to apply when adequate data in appropriate electronic form are available for the individual for the taxable year referred to in clause (i), and proper adjustments shall be made to the extent that the premium adjustments determined under the preceding sentence were inconsistent with those determined using such taxable year.

(iii) Non-filers.—In the case of individuals with respect to whom the Secretary of the Treasury does not have adequate data in appropriate electronic form for either taxable year referred to in clause (i) or clause (ii), the Commissioner of Social Security, in consultation with the Secretary, shall prescribe regulations which provide for the treatment of the premium adjustment with respect to such individual under this subsection, including regulations which provide for—

(I) the application of the highest applicable percentage under paragraph (3)(C) to such individual if the Commissioner has information which indicates that such individual’s modified adjusted gross income might exceed the threshold amount for the taxable year referred to in clause (i), and

(II) proper adjustments in the case of the application of an applicable percentage under subclause (I) to such individual which is inconsistent with such individual’s modified adjusted gross income for such taxable year.

(C) Use of more recent taxable year.—

(i) In general.—The Commissioner of Social Security in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury shall establish a procedures under which an individual’s modified adjusted gross income shall, at the request of such individual, be determined under this subsection—

(I) for a more recent taxable year than the taxable year otherwise used under subparagraph (B), or

(II) by such methodology as the Commissioner, in consultation with such Secretary, determines to be appropriate, which may include a methodology for aggregating or disaggregating information from tax returns in the case of marriage or divorce.

(ii) Standard for granting requests.—A request under clause (i)(I) to use a more recent taxable year may be granted only if—

(I) the individual furnishes to such Commissioner with respect to such year such documentation, such as a copy of a filed Federal income tax return or an equivalent document, as the Commissioner specifies for purposes of determining the premium adjustment (if any) under this subsection; and

(II) the individual’s modified adjusted gross income for such year is significantly less than such income for the taxable year determined under subparagraph (B) by reason of the death of such individual’s spouse, the marriage or divorce of such individual, or other major life changing events specified in regulations prescribed by the Commissioner in consultation with the Secretary.

(5) Inflation adjustment.—

(A) In general.—Subject to subparagraph (C), in the case of any calendar year beginning after 2007 (other than 2018 and 2019), each dollar amount in paragraph (2) or (3) shall be increased by an amount equal to^[215]—

(i) such dollar amount, multiplied by

(ii) the percentage (if any) by which the average of the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (United States city average) for the 12-month period ending with August of the preceding calendar year exceeds such average for the 12-month period ending with August 2006 (or, in the case of a calendar year beginning with 2020, August 2018).^[216]

(B) Rounding.—If any dollar amount after being increased under subparagraph (A) or (C) is not a multiple of $1,000, such dollar amount shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $1,000.^[217]

(C)[218]Treatment of adjustments for certain higher income individuals.—

(i) In general.—Subparagraph (A) shall not apply with respect to each dollar amount in paragraph (3) of $500,000.

(ii)(ii) Adjustments beginning 2028.—In the case of any calendar year beginning after 2027, each dollar amount in paragraph (3) of $500,000 shall be increased by an amount equal to—

(I) such dollar amount, multiplied by

(II) the percentage (if any) by which the average of the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (United States city average) for the 12- month period ending with August of the preceding calendar year exceeds such average for the 12- month period ending with August 2026.

(6) Temporary adjustment in income thresholds.—Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, during the period beginning on January 1, 2011, and ending on December 31, 2017^[219]—

(A) the threshold amount otherwise applicable under paragraph (2) shall be equal to such amount for 2010; and

(B) the dollar amounts otherwise applicable under paragraph (3)(C)(i) shall be equal to such dollar amounts for 2010.

(7) Joint return defined.—For purposes of this subsection, the term “joint return” has the meaning given to such term by section 7701(a)(38) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986^[220].

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^[202]  P.L. 114-74, §601(a)(1) struck “Such”, inserted “Subject to paragraphs (5) and (6), such”. Effective November 2, 2015.

^[203]  P.L. 114-74, §601(a)(2) Inserted paragraph (5). Effective November 2, 2015.

^[204]  See Vol. II, P.L. 114–74, §601(d), for conditional application to 2017 if no Social Security COLA for 2017.

^[205]  P.L. 114-74, §601(a)(2) Inserted paragraph (6). Effective November 2, 2015.

^[206]  See Vol. II, P.L. 114–74, §601(d), for conditional application to 2017 if no Social Security COLA for 2017.

^[207]  See Vol. II, P.L. 75-162.

^[208]  P.L. 114-10, §402(b)(1) inserted “(or, beginning with 2018, $85,000),”. Effective April 16, 2015.

^[209]  P.L. 114-10, §402(b)(2) inserted “applicable ” before “table”. Effective April 16, 2015.

^[210]  P.L. 114-74, §601(c)(1–3) restructured clause (ii); Inserted subclause (II). Effective November 2, 2015.

^[211]  P.L. 114-10, §402(a)(1) inserted “(I) Subject to paragraphs (5) and (6), for years before 2018” after “In General.”. Effective April 16, 2015.

P.L. 114-10, §402(a)(2) inserted subclause (II). Effective April 16, 2015.

^[212]  P.L. 115–123, §53114(a)(1), struck “years beginning with” before “2018”. Effective February 9, 2018.

^[213]  P.L. 115–123, §53114(a)(2), inserted new subclause (III). Effective February 9, 2018.

^[214]  P.L. 115–123, §53114(b), inserted “except, with respect to the dollar amounts applied in the last row of the table under subclause (III) of such clause (and the second dollar amount specified in the second to last row of such table), clause (i) shall be applied by substituting dollar amounts which are 150 percent of such dollar amounts for the calendar year” before the period. Effective February 9, 2018.

^[215]  P.L. 114-10, §402(b)(3)(A) inserted “(other than 2018 and 2019)” after “2007”. Effective April 16, 2015.

P.L. 115–123,§53114(c)(1), struck “In the case” and inserted “Subject to subparagraph (C), in the case”. Effective February 9, 2018.

^[216]  P.L. 114-10, §402(b)(3)(B) inserted “(or, in the case of a calendar year beginning with 2020, August 2018)” after “2006”. Effective April 16, 2015.

^[217]  P.L. 115–123, §53114(c)(2), inserted “or (C)” after “(A)”. Effective February 9, 2018.

^[218]  P.L. 115–123, §53114(c)(3), inserted new subparagraph (C). Effective February 9, 2018.

^[219]  P.L. 114-10, §402(b)(4) struck “2019”, inserted “2017”. Effective April 16, 2015.

^[220]  See Vol. II, P.L. 83-591, §7701(a)(38).