WASHINGTON (AP) \u2014 Medicare says its \u201cPart B\u201d premium for outpatient care will rise by just $1.50 a month next year. That means retirees should be able to keep more of their recently-announced Social Security cost-of-living increase. Medicare officials said Friday the standard premium will be $135.50 a month for 2019. \u201cPart B\u201d of Medicare covers doctor visits and outpatient care, while \u201cPart A\u201d covers hospitalization.
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\r\nThe annual outpatient deductible will increase by only $2, to $185 next year. That\u2019s the amount beneficiaries are responsible for before Medicare starts paying.
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\r\nThe inpatient deductible will increase by $24, to $1,364 in 2019.
\r\nJust Thursday, Social Security announced a 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, the highest in 7 years. It works out to an estimated $39 a month for the average retired worker.
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