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Increases in Medicare Premiums vs. Social Security Benefits

Posted March 7, 2017 by Denis Smirnov

Couple of months ago I did a post about healthcare costs in retirement and mentioned that they been increasing at 6.5%  a year. I this post I want to provide some details on where this number comes from and compare it to other inflation metrics.

Exhibit 1 shows how standard Medicare Part B premiums have increased over the past several decades compared to Social Security retirement benefits and more general inflation as measured by Consumer Price Index (CPI). Those are annualized growth rates (see notes at the end of the post about how these numbers are determined each year).

In the 1970’s all three tracked in line, then in 80’s Medicare increased almost twice as fast. Since 2000 they have risen over 3 times faster. Overall Medicare premiums have increase at 7.1% per year (faster than 6.5% reference above) while top line inflation was “only” 4%.

Exhibit 1 – Historical Inflation, Social Security and Medicare Premium Growth

Exhibit 2 shows the same information as cumulative indices in a chart form. The first panel compares CPI to SS COLA. Despite different calculation methods, they track each other quite well so we can make a case that Social Security benefits are keeping up with the inflation. Second panel adds the Medicare Premium line and wow what a difference. The scale changes dramatically and the divergence from mid-80’s just keeps getting bigger!

As an aside: Some people insist that the official government definition/calculation of inflation is not to be trusted, personally I don’t believe in those conspiracy theories and think that CPI is close enough for government work.

Exhibit 2 – Cumulative Growth Indices

Driven by  big increases, Medicare premiums are becoming larger and larger burden on retirees. Exhibit 3 shows Medicare Part B costs as a % of average Social Security benefit. It almost tripled since 1980 to 15% and is projected to continue increasing.

Exhibit 3

Well now you know where some of the big increases in healthcare costs come from. One day I might take a more detailed look at various components of healthcare costs and their inflation.

Wonky notes:

Annual Social security benefit increases are based on a formula:

“After 1983, COLAs have been based on increases in the CPI-W from the third quarter of the prior year to the corresponding quarter of the current year in which the COLA became effective.”

http://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/colaseries.html

 

“The standard Medicare Part B premium is determined by a formula contained in the 1997 Balanced Budget Act, which set the premium at 25 percent of total program costs. The remaining 75 percent of program costs are financed through general revenues. The Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) required higher-income beneficiaries to pay a higher percentage of program costs, resulting in multiple tiers of premiums based on income.

Over the 50-year history of the Medicare program, Part B premiums have changed nearly every year, reflecting the changes in health care costs. From 2012 until 2015, premiums either decreased or remained the same because the growth in health care costs stabilized.  The 2016 increase reflects new growth in health care spending. However, a “hold harmless” provision in the Social Security Act mandates that the Part B premium increase cannot exceed any beneficiary’s cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in their Social Security check. As a result, the net amount of the individual’s Social Security check will not decrease. ”

http://www.ncpssm.org/Medicare/QAAboutMedicarePartB

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