Hello. I was paid my first Social Security payment in September of this year for August with no Medicare Part B payment reduction. Per my Social Security letter, I will receive payment going forward with the Part B deductions made. However, I have already paid in full to Medicare for the Part B payments for August, Sept., Oct., and November and have already received a check for a two month part b refund. I have read that refunds are made for month of social security payment rather than the month that you are paid for. However it still seems that I paid for Aug. Sept Oct Nov., and received only three months payment back, two as refund and one with no deduction of part b. Could you please clarify, because in my mind, the math doesn't add up. Thank you.

Hi. The main thing that gets people confused about Medicare Part B premiums is the fact that the premiums withheld from a person's monthly Social Security payment are for the month in which the benefits are paid. That's different from the Social Security benefits themselves, which are paid a month behind. So, when you receive your Social Security benefit for August that's paid in September, the Medicare premium withheld from that payment is for your September Medicare coverage.

I can't tell from your description whether or not you are due an additional premium refund, but if you think you are then you may want to contact Social Security. Part B premiums withheld for months that a person has paid premiums out of pocket are normally automatically refunded within 60 days.

Best, Jerry