Medicare premiums are rising sharply next year, cutting into the large Social Security cost-of-living increase. The basic monthly premium will jump 15.5%, or $21.60, from $148.50 to $170.10 a month.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the premium and other Medicare costs increased on November 12, 2021.

The steep hike is attributed to increasing healthcare costs and uncertainty over Medicare’s outlay for an expensive new drug that was recently approved to treat Alzheimer’s disease.

Because most recipients have their Medicare premium deducted from their Social Security check, the upswing in Medicare premiums means that the Social Security cost-of-living increase of 5.9%, which was the largest in 39 years, will be smaller for most people.

While the majority of beneficiaries will pay the added amount, a “hold harmless” rule prevents Medicare recipients’ premiums from increasing more than Social Security benefits.

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This “hold harmless” provision does not apply to Medicare beneficiaries who are enrolled in Medicare but not yet receiving Social Security, new Medicare beneficiaries, elders earning more than $91,000 a year, and “dual eligibles” who get both Medicare and Medicaid benefits.

Meanwhile, the Part B deductible will rise $30, from $203 to $233 in 2022, while the Part A deductible will go up by $72, to $1,556. For beneficiaries receiving skilled care in a nursing home, Medicare’s coinsurance for days 21-100 will increase from $185.50 to $194.50. Medicare coverage ends after day 100.

Here are all the new Medicare payment figures:

Part B premium: $170.10 (was $148.50)
Part B deductible: $233 (was $203)
Part A deductible: $1,556 (was $1,484)
Co-payment for hospital stay days 61-90: $389/day (was $371)
Co-payment for hospital stay days 91 and beyond: $778/day (was $742)
Skilled nursing facility co-payment, days 21-100: $194.50/day (was $185.50)

Your “Medigap” policy may cover some of these costs.

Premiums for higher-income beneficiaries ($91,000 and above) are as follows:

Individuals with annual incomes between $91,000 and $114,000 and married couples with annual incomes between $182,000 and $228,000 will pay a monthly premium of $238.10.
Individuals with annual incomes between $114,000 and $142,000 and married couples with annual incomes between $228,000 and $2846,000 will pay a monthly premium of $340.20.
Individuals with annual incomes between $142,000 and $170,000 and married couples with annual incomes between $284,000 and $340,000 will pay a monthly premium of $442.30.
Individuals with annual incomes above $170,000 and less than $500,000 and married couples with annual incomes above $340,000 and less than $750,000 will pay a monthly premium of $544.30.
Individuals with annual incomes above $500,000 and married couples with annual incomes above $750,000 will pay a monthly premium of $578.30.

Rates differ for beneficiaries who are married but file a separate tax return from their spouse. Those with incomes greater than $91,000 and less than $409,000 will pay a monthly premium of $544.30. Those with incomes greater than $409,000 will pay a monthly premium of $578.30.

The Social Security Administration uses the income reported two years ago to determine a Part B beneficiary’s premium.

This means that the income reported on a beneficiary’s 2020 tax return is used to determine whether the beneficiary must pay a higher monthly Part B premium in 2022.

Income is calculated by taking a beneficiary’s adjusted gross income and adding back in some normally excluded income, such as tax-exempt interest, U.S. savings bond interest used to pay tuition, and certain income from foreign sources.