What is the Medicare Part B giveback?

What does a Part B premium reduction do?

A Part B premium reduction means the plan helps pay your Part B premium. Medicare.gov says some Medicare Advantage plans will help pay all or part of your Part B premium, that this is sometimes called a "Medicare Part B premium reduction," and that it isn't available in all areas. Medicare.gov's comparison of Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage adds that some plans may have a $0 premium and may help pay all or part of your Part B premium.

Whether a plan offers a reduction at all depends on the plan, and Medicare.gov's advice is to contact the plan for more information.

Do I still have to pay the Part B premium?

Yes, unless a plan's reduction covers all of it. You must have Part A and Part B to join a Medicare Advantage plan, and Medicare.gov says you must have Part B and keep paying your Part B premium to stay in your plan. Medicare.gov says you pay the Part B premium each month, even if you don't get any Part B-covered services, and that the amount can change each year (see the Part B premium and how income affects Medicare premiums).

If you join a plan that charges its own premium, you pay that in addition to the Part B premium. Some Medicare Advantage plans have a $0 premium, but you still may pay the Part B premium.

How do I find out whether a plan offers a Part B premium reduction?

Ask the plan, or compare plans at Medicare.gov/plan-compare. The Medicare & You 2027 handbook says that to learn about your costs in a specific Medicare Advantage plan, you can contact the plan or visit Medicare.gov/plan-compare. Each fall, also read the plan's Annual Notice of Change, which lists changes in coverage and costs that start in January, and its Evidence of Coverage, which details what the plan covers and how much you pay.

What else affects what I pay in a Medicare Advantage plan?

A premium reduction is only one cost. Medicare.gov and the Medicare & You 2027 handbook say your costs in a Medicare Advantage plan also depend on:

• Whether the plan charges a monthly premium of its own
• The plan's yearly deductible and any extra deductibles for certain services
• The copayment or coinsurance you pay for each visit or service
• Whether you follow the plan's rules, like using in-network providers for non-emergency care
• Whether the plan offers extra benefits and what it charges for them
• The plan's yearly limit on your out-of-pocket costs for Part A- and Part B-covered services
• The services you need, how often you get them, and whether you have Medicaid or help from your state

What should I watch for in giveback ads?

Watch for calls and ads that break Medicare's rules. A CMS fraud-awareness presentation lists, among unethical sales practices, a report of an unsolicited call offering a Medicare Advantage plan "with a give back program." Medicare.gov says Medicare will never call you to sell you anything or visit you at your home.

Medicare has marketing rules for plans and their agents and brokers. Medicare.gov lists things they aren't allowed to do, including:

• Use inaccurate, misleading or confusing information or images, including misleading use of the Medicare logo, the CMS logo or the Medicare card
• Advertise without using the specific plan type (like HMO or PPO) in the plan name
• Call or text you unless you're already a member or gave them permission
• Ask for bank account or credit card numbers over the phone or in person just to give you a quote
• Discuss specific plan benefits before telling you how many organizations they represent and how many plans they offer in your area, and referring you to Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE for all your options

Is there other help paying the Part B premium?

Yes, for people with limited income and resources. Medicare Savings Programs, which you apply for through your state, help pay Part A and Part B premiums, and some also pay deductibles, coinsurance and copayments. Medicare.gov says to apply even if you don't think you qualify, and notes that some states don't count certain types or amounts of income or resources. See help paying for Medicare.