Paying Medicare Premium Twice at Start of Social Security

[Carol9956]

I started Medicare at age 65. I waited to take Social Security until my Full Retirement age. I am required to paid quarterly payments for the Medicare Premium, (this before reaching Full Retirement age). My Notice of Award for my Social Security Benefit shows that Medicare Premiums will be automatically deducted from each month's benefit payment.

The problem is I will be paying the Medicare Premium twice for the month of May. After that, no problem and I want the automatic deduction. My Social Security Benefit starts in May. The Notice of Award clearly itemizes the deduction of the Medicare Premium for this first benefit payment. However, my last quarterly payment for the Medicare Premium includes the premium for May. Thus, I'm paying twice.

How do I fix this? Calling my local Social Security office is met with the sound of crickets chirping. Is there a way to fix this from within my online social security account? Or, will this get corrected automatically? If it is expected to be fixed automatically, how long does that take? Or, do I have to file a claim of some type?

It seems this must occur a fair amount since Medicare typically starts well before Full Retirement. I can't find it at the government sites. Please help.

[JohnC728129]

I did the math and just payed Medicare what I’d owe them till social security kicked in. Example my wife will be retiring in March I just sent them 555.00 in December that will cover her for January,February and March so when the bill comes in February I won’t need to pay it as her first benefit payment in March will cover April and from then on. 

[jv2057]

So - in my case:  I paid medicare for Feb/Mar/Apr.  My SS starts in Feb - paid in March.  If I follow the previous responses, I would expect to eventually get a refund from Medicare for March and April. Could someone please confirm - or have I missed the point?

[GailL1 · Accepted solution]

Yes, it does occur and then it takes awhile for the amount that was overpaid to be reconciled.

Remember that

• Medicare Part B premiums are paid for the month of service in which they are due. 
• But SSA benefits are paid (1) month in arrears - 

So my question to you is - will your SSA benefit be paid in May - which will be the April SSA benefit. (probably not)     OR will the SSA benefit be paid in June - which will be the May benefit?

If the SSA benefit is for the month of May (paid in June) then the Part B premium that is being deducted would be for June, not May.

[PatriciaJ659531]

Does one have to contact SSA to apply for the overpaid amount to be reconciled? Or it done automatically?

[JoanG305405]

Supposed to be done automatically, but like GaiL1 stated, it takes awhile.  I paid my premium twice every month in Jan, Feb, & Mar, and still haven't received a refund.  My last inquiry with SSA informed me that it should be refunded the first week of June.  Not holding my breath!

[JoanG305405]

Latest update:  the 1st week of June came & went with still NO refund, prompting another call to SSA.  I was informed that "they are still working on it, & in fact, it was worked on as recently as yesterday".  That was 2 wks ago, still no refund.  Still not holding my breath!  Hahaha...

[JoanG305405]

Well, it took 7 months, but I finally got a reimbursement check today & it was even for the correct amount!  WooHoo!  The wheels of government are turning slower than ever!  Just have to be patient.

[LD76]

 I had the double deduction problem at the beginning of my Social Security and I did eventually get a refund. However, they continue to pay me the lesser amount. Every time I do finally get to talk to someone they tell me that my "benefit" is my PIA minus $185, and then I still have to pay $185 for insurance. That is incorrect. PIA is my benefit, minus the first $185 should be my benefit payment, not my starting amount for more deductions. 

[GailL1]

@LD76 

I  am having a bit of a problem following you - are you saying that you are paying your Part B premiums (2025 - $ 185) as a reduction to your Social Security benefit AND you are also paying a payment for it to Medicare for the same month of service?  

[GregEng]

 I have the exact same issue as @LD76. The numbers used are for illustrative purposes only. Say my benefits due for July 2025 is $4,000 as an example. The medical insurance premium deducted (one month in advance) is $185 so the amount deposited in August is $3,815. Beginning in September and for the remainder of my life, SS will take the $3,815 less current month premium of $185 and deposit $3,630 to my account. Shouldn't the monthly payment start with the $4,000 benefits less the $185 so that the monthly payment is $3,815? By using $3,815 as the starting monthly benefit amount, I am essentially paying the $185 twice (one month in advance plus the current month premium) forever. No, I am not a higher earner to be charged $370 per month. Seems like a misapplication of the starting monthly beginning amount. That's $2,220 extra annually and the number grows for every additional year.  Does that make sense? Please help me understand how this is correct. Thanks!

[LD76]

Hi Greg, I got a reply back from Medicare today that says Social Security has only deducted $1110.00 (185.00/month) for my premiums for May thru October. My payment deductions say otherwise. I haven't even gotten the September payment yet to see the October deduction but one thing is clear: They aren't reporting the first $185 "Insurance" deduction from my PIA to Medicare and I haven't even received the September payment with the October deduction yet to see how that looks. Next question is where is that first deduction going if it's not going to Medicare? Hopefully my attorney can shed some light. 

[LD76]

Hi GregEng, exactly. My benefit verification letter now also says that my "Benefit" is the PIA minus the first $185.00. When I called Social Security to question the double deduction they said no you're wrong, your Benefit is (lets use PIA $1000-$185 for example purposes) $815.00 and Medicare comes off that. So they've basically changed the program to alter PIA, this isn't any kind of catch up deduction. I was pre-paid for several months already because of the timing of FRA and first Social Security payment. I submitted paperwork and am waiting for answers from both Medicare and Social Security and I've copied my Senator and House Rep as well. Medicare is the group insurance program I'm in since I don't have an employer plan anymore. I pay a premium, it's a monthly expense. It has nothing to do with my earnings calculation for my top 35 salary years and my Social Security PIA, and is not supposed to be included in that calculation. 

[LD76]

 Hi Gail, Yes and no. I started Part B in 2024, FRA was March of 2025 and I was pre-paid directly to Medicare through May of 2025. Now it's through Social Security. Initially Social Security calculated my payment correctly, PIA minus $185, which is stated clearly in their correspondence. But then things changed at Social Security and now they are calling that my "Benefit", not my Benefit Payment. 

It's not my Benefit, that's what my net benefit payment should be every month with no additional deductions.

Then they started paying me less an additional $185.00 for Medicare. I appealed immediately and they sent me $185, but they didn't correct the Payment amount and keep telling me that the amount of PIA minus the first $185 is my "Benefit" and I have to pay Medicare on top of that. In total, since Feb I've paid $1480 in Medicare for March through July, minus the $185 they did refund. If they keep deducting $370 from my PIA every month, I'll have paid over $3500 for Medicare for March through next January by the end of the year. Yes, I'm filing another appeal. 

[DemetriusG679433]

Did you ever get an answer to this? I just received my first payment and they're doing the same thing. First payment is more than the second month. Shouldn't it continue to be the original first payment amount minus Medicare premium instead of calculating the amount after Medicare and then taking an additional Medicare premium out for the second month? (not a higher income earner and IRMAA is not applicable) I can not wrap my head around this logic.

[LD76]

Not yet. Medicare confirmed they were only receiving one deduction of $185 a month from Social Security. I had to involve my House Rep and so far I've waited months for each appt. At the last one they told me the letter was a mistake, but what mistake they couldn't tell. Then I didn't hear anything until today when they finally answered my Rep's office and I have phone appt with a SS Tech, in March. In the mean time my COLA was calculated on PIA minus $185 and my end of year tax form says I only paid the one deduction per month. I think everyone who started social security in 2025 should check their initial acceptance letter against their tax document and see how much of the insurance amounts that were deducted were reported to Medicare and how their COLA was calculated.

To be clear, I started in March, first payment from SS in April. I paid Medicare direct before SS started for March and April after they refunded me the May duplicate of $185. SS deducted $3415 in "insurance" from my 2025 payments which started in April. My 1099SM says Medicare Part B Premiums Deducted were $1480. 

[BtW751689]

I start this month and had been paying my quarterly premiums.  A family member said don't pay the most current premium yourself when you are going to be collecting social security because it will take a while to get your money back.  So when my payment was due in November for Dec, Jan, Feb, I called Medicare and asked what to do, was told if I did not pay it myself now it would be taken out when SS starts.  I was told I will not lose any benefit (it apparently takes several months of non payment before they take other action).  I expect my payment which is scheduled next week, to have two Medicare premiums deducted, one for Dec which is the first payment I will get in Jan and also January which is for January.  Fingers crossed...

[GailL1]

@LD76 

Would you be a higher income earner and IRMAA is in play?  That would be one reason why there is a $ 370 deduction for Part B rather than the $ 185 that most beneficiaries pay;

IRMAA is the Income Related Monthly Adjusted Amount that some beneficiaries have to pay if they have higher income. 

CMS.gov - 2025 Medicare Part A & B Premiums 

See the chart under the heading labeled:

Medicare Part B Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts

Amount ADDED TO current year Regular Part B premium                                                     

                                                                       ⬇️

Beneficiaries who file individual tax returns with modified adjusted gross income:	Beneficiaries who file joint tax returns with modified adjusted gross income:	Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount  ⬇️	Total Monthly Premium Amount   ⬇️
Greater than $133,000 and less than or equal to $167,000	Greater than $266,000 and less than or equal to $334,000	185.00	370.00

[stuntfalcon]

I was convinced I had to have it, they lied to me. I paid, then got billed and double paid. Then I learned that I DON'T have to pay for anything past part A because I'm a veteran and my healthcare is free. I never got the money back, and now...3 years after I signed up for SSA benefits, they withheld nearly $500 for 'unpaid premiums.' That's half my check and no remedy in sight. Just in time for the holidays too!

[GailL1]

@stuntfalcon 

If you are gonna use the VA Health system instead of Medicare - you need to cancel Medicare Part B - that’s the part of Medicare that is funded partly by money premiums.

But know what you are doing - make sure that you are gonna get what you need via the VA Health system.  You said “free” - they will decide that based on your VA category and income.

READ this to start:

VA.gov - VA Healthcare and Other Insurance 

VA.gov- About VA Health Benefits 

AARP- Do I need to sign up for Medicare if I’m a veteran with VA health care? 

Medicare.gov - How Medicare Works with other insurance  

See page 8 where it talks about VA Health benefits

Now if you do want to cancel your Medicare Part B - you have to do it officially - the government way, of course.

Medicare.gov - How do I terminate my Medicare Part B (medical insurance) 

Just a note - With VA Healthcare benefits and with full Medicare coverage, you have the best of both worlds and can pretty much get care anyplace.  You will not need a Medicare Part D - prescription drug coverage if you want to use the VA Health Benefit for drug coverage.  It covers MOST everything.  

Of course, the decision is yours to make.  

As far as getting a refund of any Part B premiums - Maybe -  if you haven’t used Part B but not going back for (3) years but any refund will take awhile.

Might be something else going on since you have been on Medicare for (3) years = If you use the Part B Medicare, you have to pay your premiums.  

Could it be that there is something amiss here?

Good Luck.

[ValerieC417861]

I went online to check what my premium would be and they signed me up for part B!! it’s $300/mo and I can’t afford that so I cancelled but it’s taking two months to get the cancellation through. Can I get those two premiums refunded since I didn’t use Medicare??

[GailL1]

@ValerieC417861 

Are you sure it was $ 370 - that would be (2) months @ $185 a month.  

Yes, you can cancel Part B and you will get a refund BUT the important thing is what are you gonna be using in place of it?  

Employer Group Health is about the only thing that will take its’ place until you stop working.

If you don’t have anything else that is creditable in the eyes of Medicare, then you will have to pay a late enrollment penalty when you do decide to sign up for Medicare Part B and it will last forever.  Same thing for Medicare Part D. 

If you are low income, you might be eligible for a Medicare Savings Program where your state pays these premiums for you.  Here is the eligibility guidelines for 2025 - for some of these you have to apply every year. 

Medicare.gov - Medicare Savings Programs 

Again for those who are low income, who meet the eligibility guideline there is also Extra Help available for any prescription drugs coverage,

SSA.gov - Extra Help  

Based on your situation, cancelling Part B might be a good decision or a very bad one - but without all your details, I can’t say specifically which one this might be for you.

[fffred]

@GailL1  Kudos for awesome reply. Knowledgeable insight like this is worth so much; difficult to get this concise summarized research. Nice work!! thank you

[Carol9956]

Yes, the SSA payment is in June, (for my first benefit month of May). So I have no double payment for May. The SSA payment received in June will include the Medicare premium for June's coverage.

Thank you very much for your quick response and help.

Gilda Radner was awesome. I found her Emily Litella to be as hilarious as her Roseanne Roseannadanna. Oh, that's different. Nevermind. 😉

[GailL1]

@Carol9956 wrote

Yes, the SSA payment is in June, (for my first benefit month of May). So I have no double payment for May. The SSA payment received in June will include the Medicare premium for June's coverage.

Now you have it - Happy Retirement.

[jc41005436]

So I shouldn't pay the quarterly bill due in May for my June, July, August Medicare $205/ payment? Or pay it to be safe & hope to get reimbursed in approximately 7 months?

[PamelaM737243]

Again, I am sorry to ask this of you on an older post, but I am in the same situation and need more clarification.  I'm not sure why it's so confusing for me but I think it's because of how the Social Security payments are paid as opposed to how Medicare is paid.   I made my 4th quarter Medicare premium for October, November, and December.  This was an overpayment as I will start receiving SS benefits for October, which will be paid in November.  I DID received my refund check but it was only refunded for 2 months.  

[PamelaM737243]

UHHH.  I think I may have figured it out... so... my October Medicare payment, I paid. The October Social Security check will take out Medicare but that will be applied to November, medicare (not October) thus... only 2 months of refund is for November and December.   Ugh.. I need more coffee.

[jv2057]

PamelaM - I posted my version of your question (slightly different timing, but I am hoping someone replies - as I will be scratching my head until I see the refund.  LOL)

[PamelaM737243]

Did you get an answer back yet?  It was hard for me to figure out too.  But, many answers on this thread helped me “comprehend” it.  LOL  If you scroll through them, I think it will start to sink in.  Look at  @GailL1 answer, she explained it for me, the best way!  I was refunded for 2 months.  The “catch” was you are dealing with 2 different agencies that 2 different schedules.  I did get my refund quicker than I thought I would, too.  Good luck to you!