If you buy Part A, you'll pay up to $471 each month in 2021. If you paid Medicare taxes for less than 30 quarters, the standard Part A premium is $471. If you paid Medicare taxes for 30-39 quarters, the standard Part A premium is $259. The standard Part B premium amount is $148.50 (or higher depending on your income). A deductible is the amount of money you spend out-of-pocket before your prescription drug benefits begin. Your plan may or may not have a deductible. The maximum deductible a plan can charge for 2021 is set at $445, 2 an increase of $10 from 2020.
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Generally speaking, no. This can vary a bit, depending on whether or not you have Medicare Advantage. There can also be some fees related to your doctor's visit, like prescription drug costs, that often do have a copay. We’ll go through the full structure of your out-of-pocket fees with Medicare as they relate to doctor visits, so you can know what to expect when you walk in the door.
Copay vs. Coinsurance
Copays and coinsurance fees are often discussed when you hear about your medical insurance plan. Most of the time, a copay or copayment refers to a single fee that you will have to pay when you receive health care. For example, your insurance may charge a $20 copay for each doctor visit, and you’ll have to pay this same fee no matter which services you receive at the doctor’s office.
A coinsurance functions as a percentage-based cost-sharing agreement, rather than a set fee. For example, Medicare Part B has a 20 percent coinsurance, which means that Medicare pays 80 pecent of the approved amount of your medical services, and you pay the remaining 20 percent. Some private insurance plans can have both a copay and a coinsurance for different scenarios.
Both copay and coinsurance fees will only apply after you’ve paid your annual deductible.
Does Medicare Use Copays?
Yes and no. Importantly, Part B of Medicare never uses copays. Part B has a deductible of $203per benefit period, and after this, you will pay 20 percent of your costs, which is your coinsurance. Medicare Part B covers doctor visits, as well as other things like durable medical equipment, so you will never pay a copay for a doctor visit under Original Medicare, only a coinsurance.
Mental Health Services -- The Exception
Mental health services are the one regular exception to this rule. There may be some instances in which you don't have to pay a copay for these services, but most of the time that is the arrangement that Medicare will use. Make sure to check the details with the office you are dealing with and with Medicare.
What About Part A?
Medicare Part A does not technically use a copayment, but the fees are very similar to what most people associate with copays. Part A hospital insurance uses a so-called coinsurance fee, but this fee is not percentage-based and is pre-set with a few tiers depending on the length of your skilled nursing facility or hospital stay. Because it is a pre-set fee, it does function like a copay, despite being called a coinsurance.
Copays with Medicare Advantage
When it comes to copays, Medicare Advantage is a whole other story. Medicare Advantage, or Part C, refers to a way of receiving your Medicare coverage through a private health insurance company. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, many of the associated fees will be set by that insurance company, rather than Medicare. Although there are some regulations on these costs, there will be more variety.
This means that some Medicare Advantage plans will have copays, and others won’t. The amount of the copay will vary, and some plans may use copays for one type of care while using a coinsurance for others; it depends. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, make sure that you know in advance what the copay is, so you can be prepared when you go see your healthcare provider.
How do Part D Prescription Drug Plans Fit In?
Although Part D plans usually won't apply to your actual doctor visit, they are still very relevant to the process. If your doctor prescribes you medication during your visit, it will usually be covered by a Part D plan. For this reason, you should make sure to understand the copay structure and out-of-pocket fees associated with your prescription drug plan, whether it’s Part D or another private plan.
Like Medicare Advantage plans, Part D plans are offered by private insurance companies. This means that they are also free to use copays, and the majority will. Prescription drug coverage is especially suited to copay structures since people refill their prescriptions often. If you have a Part D plan, it most likely uses a copay.
When it comes to Part D plans, there will usually be a tier list that has a higher copay for drugs higher on the list. If possible, try to know what the copay is before you go in to get your prescription filled.
Can Medigap Plans Help?
Medigap plans, or Medicare Supplement Plans, are plans that cover some of your Medicare out-of-pocket costs. With these plans, you will only pay a monthly premium, with no other out-of-pocket costs. As an example, these plans can cover your Part B coinsurance, and cover many other out-of-pocket fee categories. You can read more about Medigap plans at medicare.gov.
Medigap plans only cover out-of-pocket costs, so they won’t cover medical services. These plans only cover Original Medicare, not Medicare Advantage or Part D drug plans.
Because they don’t cover Medicare Advantage, Medigap plans won’t ever be able to pay for your copay. This is simply because there is no usual copay under Original Medicare. Some Medigap plans will cover the Part A coinsurance, which as we mentioned earlier, does function the same way as a copay.
Things to Keep in Mind
Overall, understanding copays with Medicare is simple, just don’t ignore it until the last minute! If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, make sure that you understand your out-of-pocket fees so a copay won’t surprise you. Otherwise, you'll rarely have to deal with copays with Medicare.
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Medicare Advantage plans offer the ability to receive the same benefits as Original Medicare, but from a private insurer.
However even with the added flexibility that Medicare Advantage plans provide, you may still be responsible for out-of-pocket costs, including copays.
A Medicare copay is the amount of money you're required to pay for a covered Medicare service or good. A copayment is typically a flat fee.
Why Medicare Advantage?
In 2020, more than 34 percent of Medicare beneficiaries were enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan.1
Many are likely drawn to the unique benefits of Medicare Advantage, as compared with Original Medicare:
- Medicare Advantage plans may often include additional benefits for prescription drugs, dental care, and vision care.
- The average premium for a Medicare Advantage plan that offers prescription drug coverage is $33.57 per month in 2021.2 Some plans may not have a monthly premium, and some may even help pay you back for your Medicare Part B premium.
- Medicare Advantage, unlike Original Medicare, comes with an out-of-pocket limit, which means your out-of-pocket spending will be capped.
- While plans are offered by private insurers, you are still guaranteed the benefits of Original Medicare.
Medicare Advantage costs
Medicare Advantage out-of-pocket costs can include:
- Medicare Part B premium
Even under Medicare Advantage, you must still pay your Part B premium (unless your plan helps pay for it). The standard Part B premium in 2021 is $148.50 per month. - Deductibles
Some plans require you to meet a deductible when seeing doctors, visiting hospitals, or getting your drugs filled. - Medicare copay
Many Medicare Advantage plans require that you pay a copay when you see a doctor. This is a fixed cost — and an alternative to Original Medicare’s 20 percent coinsurance. - Premiums
As noted above, the average monthly premium for Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage is $33.57 per month in 2021.
Note: these costs may be higher (or lower), depending on your plan.
Compare Medicare plan costs
As you compare your options, you should weigh the costs of Medicare Advantage against the additional benefits you may receive, as compared to staying with Original Medicare.
Read additional medicare costs guides to learn more about Medicare costs and how they will affect you.
Or call 1-800-557-60591-800-557-6059TTY Users: 711 to speak with a licensed insurance agent. We accept calls 24/7!
2020 Medicare Part A Premiums
1 Jacobson, G., et al. (Oct. 24, 2019). Medicare Advantage 2020 Spotlight: First Look. Kaiser Family Foundation. Retrieved from www.kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/medicare-advantage-2020-spotlight-first-look.
Medicare Part A Deductible 2020
2 MedicareAdvantage.com's The Best States for Medicare in 2021 report. (Oct. 27, 2020).