Medicare | RRB.Gov

2025 Medicare Part B Premiums and Deductibles Will Increase

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that the standard monthly Part B premium will be $185.00 in 2025, an increase of $10.30 from $174.70 in 2024. However, some Medicare beneficiaries may pay less than this amount because, by law, Part B premiums for current enrollees cannot increase by more than the amount of the cost-of-living adjustment for social security (railroad retirement tier I) benefits. The annual deductible for all Medicare Part B enrollees in 2025 will be $257, an increase of $17 from the 2024 deductible of $240.

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RRB to Begin Withholding Medicare Parts C and D Premiums

Beginning with the premiums due for June 2011, the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) will be able to withhold premiums for Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage Plans) and Medicare Part D (prescription drug plans) from benefit payments. Beneficiaries should contact their plans to request withholding of these premiums from their monthly benefit payments.

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Palmetto GBA, RRB's Medicare

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Palmetto GBA is the Railroad Specialty Medicare Administrative Contractor (RRB SMAC) and processes Part B claims for Railroad Retirement beneficiaries nationwide. Palmetto GBA is contracted by the RRB.

Telephone Inquiries - If you would like to check the status of your Railroad Medicare Part B claim, you may call the Palmetto Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system toll-free at (800) 833-4455. From the main menu, press one ‘1’ for claim status. You will need your Railroad Medicare number, Date of Birth, Name, and Date of Service for the claim you are searching for. If you need help while using the IVR, Customer Service Representative Representatives (CSRs) are available by pressing zero ‘0’. Claim status and CSR are available Monday thru Friday from 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. ET.

For the hearing impaired, call TTY/TDD at (877) 566-3572. This line is for the hearing impaired with the appropriate dial-up service and is available during the same hours Customer Service Representatives are available.

Spanish inquiries can be directed to (800) 833-4455.

Published by: Policy and Systems | Email: webmaster@rrb.gov

Medicare Premiums

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Learn about the basic costs for Medicare: Part A (hospital insurance). Part B (medical insurance) including Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) and late enrollment penalty. Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C) and what factors contribute to how much you pay out-of-pocket. The different types of Medicare drug coverage (Part D) and the costs you will pay in a Medicare drug plan. The current Medicare Part A, Part B, Part C, and Part D costs for monthly premiums, deductibles, penalties, copayments, and coinsurance.

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Medicare for Railroad Retirement Beneficiaries in Canada

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RRB Reminders for 2024

2024 TIER I EARNINGS BASE AND TAX RATES
Annual Maximum - $168,600
Employee and Employer Tax Rate – 6.2%
Maximum Payable by an Employee & Employer - $10,453.20

2024 TIER II EARNINGS BASE AND TAX RATES
Annual Maximum - $125,100
Employee Tax Rate – 4.9%
Maximum Payable by an Employee - $6,129.90
Employer Tax Rate – 13.1%
Maximum Payable by an Employer - $16,388.10

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Medicare Summary Notices (MSNs) Available Online

Read more about Medicare Summary Notices (MSNs) Available Online

Go paperless. Sign up for MyMedicare.gov. It is free and secure way to manage your health care better by using their electronic resources. You can receive an electronic version of your Medicare Summary Notices (eMSN). You will receive an email every 3 months with a secure link to your MSN, instead of getting a paper copy in the mail. You can also check your eligibility, enrollment and other Medicare benefits. Click here for instructions on how to sign-up for eMSNs.

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Medicare.gov Publications

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Visit Medicare.gov/publications to view, print, or download copies of publications on different Medicare topics.

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Annual Enrollment Period

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The enrollment period for Medicare Part C and Part D coverage is from October 15 to December 7 each year. Changes and enrollments made during this period will be effective on January 1 of the following year.

During this time you can:

Change from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan.
Change from a Medicare Advantage Plan back to Original Medicare.
Switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another Medicare Advantage Plan.
Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn’t offer drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers drug coverage.
Switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers drug coverage to a Medicare Advantage Plan that doesn’t offer drug coverage.
Join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
Switch from one Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to another Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
Drop your Medicare prescription drug coverage completely.

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Medicare for Railroad Workers and Their Families

This booklet is issued for general information. It does not cover certain limitations, exceptions, and special cases. It is presented to you section by section as it appears in print.

Why You Should Read This Booklet
The Medicare program covers railroad workers just like workers under social security. Railroad retirement payroll taxes include a Medicare hospital insurance tax just like social security payroll taxes.

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