Which statement correctly describes Medicare Part B premiums?
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Answer & full 3-part explanation (select an option above, or peek)
Why A is correct
Part B is not free — every beneficiary pays a monthly premium. Most beneficiaries pay the standard Part B premium, but those with higher modified adjusted gross income pay an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) on top of the base premium, so their total Part B premium is higher. The premium is not health-based and is not ordinarily paid by employers; it is usually deducted from the beneficiary's Social Security benefit or billed directly. The income-linked premium structure is a distinctive Part B fact that the exam likes to test against the free-coverage misconception.
Why the other options are wrong
- B) Part B requires a monthly premium; there is no premium-free status as there is for Part A with sufficient credits, so this option repeats the free-coverage myth.
- C) The beneficiary pays the Part B premium directly or through Social Security deduction; employers do not pay it as a rule, so this option assigns the bill to the wrong party.
- D) Part B premiums are based on income, not on health status or claims experience, so this option invents a rating factor the program never uses.
Memory hook
Part B premium: everyone pays, high earners pay more (IRMAA). Health never sets the price — income does.