No social security payment penalty?

I recently received my 2010 Medicare Part B premium bill. Wow, I thought, it went up 15 percent, from $96.40 to $110.50.

It was explained in the accompanying letter that Part B costs have gone up. Only later did I find out that my rate went up only because I am not collecting social security payments yet. Penalized for not taking social security payments? This sounds discriminatory and illegal.

I am in contact with Medicare waiting for a reasonable answer. Those of you 65 or over and paying into Medicare but not yet receiving social security payments may also feel like you are being cheated.

Mike Thommes

Naperville