My mom took the safest route. She has both have A & B and raises you a supplement. With her health problems we could not take a chance. She pays nothing, absolutely nothing out of pocket except for her scripts which she also has a plan for. The total taken out of her SS is about $130 for the supplement and script coverage and whatever Medicare is charging now, hers went up too. So, maybe total about $240?

If you can afford the 20% without a supplement, that's great, but my mom couldn't afford to take the chance she'd get put in the hospital for a lengthy stay. And guess what? She did and needed 30 days of rehab. Her cost? $0. Her total hospital stay plus rehab? Well over $50G's. Her cost if she didn't have the supplement? 20%= $10G's. Jim has A & B but no supplement because he has the Va for his long stay care.

So, to answer your question, I say take the B, and look into a supplement as well. Don't take a chance and end up bankrupt if you have to be placed in the hospital for anything. Just as soon as you think you are healthy something could pop up you never expected and it doesn't have to be MS, you know? And don't forget your script coverage! Go with one that has gap coverage.

And call SS because they have income help for those who cannot afford their premiums. Some state programs do too. Good luck. I learned more than I ever wanted to know about all this thanks to mom and Jim. It wont help me though since SS informed me I am not Medicare eligible anymore now that I don't get a paycheck. I'll be pimping the streets for medical coverage.