75% of Medicare beneficiaries worry about affording costs beyond premiums. Here’s how high out-of-pocket costs can go

For retirees, health-care costs can be among the most unpredictable expenses they face over the course of their golden years.

While many of them worry about affording their monthly Medicare premiums, their bigger concern is their out-of-pocket costs, according to a recent report from eHealth.

The report says 75% are either “very” or “somewhat” worried about affording those costs, which include deductibles, copays and coinsurance. That compares with 43% who worry about their ability to pay their premiums, according to the report, which is based on a February survey of more than 4,500 Medicare beneficiaries.

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Exactly how much you spend on Medicare depends on both your coverage choices and your use of the health-care system. However, you may be able to pinpoint a worst-case scenario to help you budget.

Basic, or original, Medicare consists of Part A (hospital coverage) and Part B (outpatient care) and covers 65 million people — 57.3 million are age 65 or older, and the remaining 7.7 million are younger with permanent disabilities.

Many beneficiaries choose to get Parts A and B through an Advantage Plan (Part C), which also typically includes Part D (prescription drug coverage) and often other extras such as dental and vision.

These plans often have no monthly premium or a low one, and they limit how much you pay out of pocket each year for covered services. Deductibles, copays and coinsurance vary from plan to plan.

Other beneficiaries instead decide to pair Parts A and B with a standalone Part D plan and, often, a Medigap plan, which covers part of the out-of-pocket costs that come with Parts A and B. However, premiums can be pricey, depending on where you live and other factors.

If you have…