Healthcare costs are rising. Thankfully, Medicare offers several ways to save money, including the Medicare Part B Giveback Benefit.
Medicare Part B giveback benefit can be incredibly appealing to Medicare enrollees trying to save a few dollars amid rising costs. While the Medicare Part B premium giveback offers a rebate that helps lower some Medicare costs, focusing on getting a Part B giveback plan might affect your other out-of-pocket costs. Read on to see if it’s worth it for you.
The Medicare Giveback Benefit is a Part B premium reduction that allows enrollees to save on their Medicare Part B premiums each month. While Medicare and Medicare Advantage (MA) plans offer many cost-saving benefits, enrollees typically pay the Part B premium out of pocket — even with Medigap. As of 2025, the Part B premium is $185, which is paid either directly (out of pocket) or through Social Security.
The Medicare Part B premium giveback is limited to Medicare Advantage beneficiaries — Medicare plans issued by private insurers with federal funds. MA plans are required by law to provide the same or better coverage than Original Medicare. The giveback benefit is one of those potential additional benefits, with the number of giveback plans increasing from just over 4% in 2018 to nearly 19% in 2024.
This benefit allows beneficiaries of MA giveback plans to cut monthly insurance costs substantially. Studies show that in 2024, about 3.4 million MA enrollees received an average of $77 per month from the Medicare Part B giveback benefit. This rebate won’t exceed the cost of your Part B premium and ranges across MA plans.
It’s important to note that the Medicare Part B giveback benefit isn’t paid via check or cash. Instead, your rebate will come through based on how you pay your Part B premium. For example, if you pay your premium out-of-pocket, the giveback benefit will reflect in your lowered monthly premium. If your Part B premium comes out of Social Security, the rebate will be added to your Social Security check. If you aren’t responsible for paying your Part B premium on your MA plan, you won’t receive a rebate.
The giveback benefit is just one of the potential additional benefits of being enrolled in MA over Original Medicare. When the government reimburses MA carriers more than they spend, carriers put that money towards additional MA benefits — including the Part B premium giveback benefit. Some may use the excess funds to provide other benefits, such as gym memberships, dental care, or over-the-counter cards.
Though popular, the giveback benefit isn’t available on every Medicare Advantage plan or in every service area. To be eligible for the benefit, you must be:
However, while the money-back promise may sound appealing, don’t let it be your main consideration when choosing a plan, as it might result in higher costs for you on average.
For example, a Part B giveback plan may offer you a $75 monthly rebate, but your new plan may not cover the specialist you’ve been seeing because they are out of network. As a result, you could end up saving $100 on your Part B premium while paying thousands out of pocket to get the care you need.
Be sure to consider your coverage needs and out-of-pocket budget before enrolling in an MA plan with a giveback benefit.
Even if an MA plan with a giveback benefit doesn’t work out to be in your best interest, it doesn’t hurt to check out your options. Navigating these waters on your own can be challenging, especially when trying to understand the pros and cons of different plans. Working with a licensed insurance agent can help you evaluate plans across carriers and identify MA plans with a giveback benefit that meet your healthcare needs and budget restraints.
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