Well, f$%k me running.
I've just spend the better part of an afternoon trying to figure out why my medicare part B premium went from $462 a month in 2016 to $134 a month for 2017. The answer is an arcane (and bizarre) rule in the pricing system. Part B is based on income - sort of. The chart below shows the rates for various income levels. But there is a catch. If you are married and file jointly you are punished by putting you in the highest premium bracket no matter what your income is. So in 2014 Mrs. WD and I filed separately for reasons of her business dealings. That put me in the highest premium bracket for 2016. Bizarrely, they have a base rate, plus an income related adjustment for for income related premiums, and then income related premiums on top of the income related premiums (the handwritten notes on the right). I'm going to appeal it. This is absurd.
