Will a one-time increase in my income due to property sales or capital gains be considered when you determine my Income-Related Medicare Part B premium?

Social Security generally considers your income from property sales or capital gains to determine your premium. To determine your 2007 Part B premium, Social Security uses the most recent tax information provided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Generally, this information is for tax year 2005. For 2008, Social Security generally will use your tax return information for 2006. Social Security uses your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) to make this determination. Your MAGI is a combination of your adjusted gross income and tax exempt interest income.

For more information, see Social Security's publication, Medicare Part B Premiums: New Rules For Beneficiaries With Higher Incomes 2006, call toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit your local Social Security office.

To learn more about Medicare Part B coverage, visit www.medicare.gov.