2026 Figures
Medicare Costs 2026
The actual premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket caps for 2026 — no guessing, no outdated numbers.
Quick Answer
In 2026, the standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90/month with a$283 annual deductible. Part A is premium-free for most people, with a$1,676 deductible per benefit period. Part D has a$2,100 annual out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs.
Part A Costs 2026
| Item | 2026 Amount |
|---|---|
| Premium — 40+ quarters of work history | $0/month |
| Premium — 30-39 quarters | $285/month |
| Premium — fewer than 30 quarters | $518/month |
| Deductible (per benefit period) | $1,676 |
Most people qualify for premium-free Part A because they or a spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years (40 quarters) while working. The deductible applies per benefit period, not per year — so if you have two separate hospital stays that aren't part of the same benefit period, you could pay the deductible twice in one year.
Part B Costs 2026
| Item | 2026 Amount |
|---|---|
| Standard monthly premium | $202.90 |
| Annual deductible | $283 |
| Coinsurance after deductible | 20% of Medicare-approved amount |
Unlike Part A, almost everyone pays a monthly premium for Part B. After you meet the $283 annual deductible, Medicare generally covers 80% of the Medicare-approved cost for covered services, leaving you responsible for the remaining 20% — unless a Medigap policy or Medicare Advantage plan covers that gap. See how Medigap and Medicare Advantage compare on handling this cost-sharing.
IRMAA: Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount
If your income is above a certain threshold, you'll pay more than the standard Part B and Part D premiums — this surcharge is called IRMAA. It's based on your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) from your tax return two years prior, so your 2026 premium is based on your 2024 income.
Key point: IRMAA is tiered — the higher your income, the higher the surcharge, in steps. It applies to both Part B and Part D premiums simultaneously. If your income dropped since the year used for the calculation (e.g., due to retirement), you can request a reconsideration from the Social Security Administration using Form SSA-44.
Use our free IRMAA calculator to estimate whether the surcharge applies to your specific income.
Part D Costs 2026
Part D premiums vary significantly by plan and are set by private insurance companies, so there's no single "standard" Part D premium the way there is for Part B. What is standardized in 2026 is the annual out-of-pocket cap:
$2,100 annual out-of-pocket cap — once your out-of-pocket spending on covered Part D drugs reaches this amount in 2026, you pay $0 for the rest of the calendar year for those covered drugs. This cap is a result of the Inflation Reduction Act's Medicare drug pricing reforms and represents one of the biggest recent changes to Medicare drug costs.
For more on how this cap works in practice — including the insulin cost cap and the Extra Help program — see our blog postMedicare Part D's $2,100 Out-of-Pocket Cap: What It Means for You in 2026.
Medicare Advantage Costs
Medicare Advantage (Part C) premiums vary widely by plan and county — many plans advertise $0 monthly premiums, but that doesn't mean the plan is free. You'll still pay your Part B premium, plus any plan-specific copays, coinsurance, and deductibles when you use services. Medicare Advantage plans do have an annual out-of-pocket maximum, unlike Original Medicare — a meaningful protection Original Medicare alone doesn't offer.
Comparing total annual cost — not just the monthly premium — between Medicare Advantage and Medigap is one of the most important (and most often skipped) steps in choosing coverage. A plan with a $0 premium but a $6,000 out-of-pocket maximum could easily cost more in a bad health year than a plan with a modest monthly premium and lower cost-sharing. See our full coverage comparison guide for how to run that comparison for your own situation, factoring in your actual doctors, prescriptions, and expected healthcare use.
Why These Numbers Change Every Year
CMS updates Medicare's premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket caps annually, typically announcing the following year's figures in the fall. These adjustments are tied to factors like national health spending trends and, for Part D specifically, the ongoing phase-in of Inflation Reduction Act drug pricing reforms. That's exactly why a page like this one needs a year in the title — cost figures from even a year or two ago can be meaningfully out of date, and using stale numbers when planning your coverage can lead to real budgeting surprises.
If you're comparing quotes or plan materials that cite different numbers than the ones here, check the publication date — and when in doubt, confirm current figures directly atMedicare.govor with a licensed insurance agent.
Ways to Lower Your Medicare Costs
If the standard premiums and deductibles above are a strain on your budget, several assistance programs exist specifically to help:
Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs)
State-administered programs that can help pay your Part B premium, and in some cases deductibles and coinsurance, if your income and assets fall under state-set limits. Eligibility varies by state, so check with your state Medicaid office.
Extra Help (Part D Low-Income Subsidy)
A federal program that helps pay Part D premiums, deductibles, and copays for people with limited income and resources. You can apply directly through the Social Security Administration, separately from your Part D plan enrollment.
Medigap
While Medigap policies carry their own premium, they can eliminate most of the unpredictable out-of-pocket coinsurance and copays under Original Medicare — trading a fixed monthly cost for protection against larger, unpredictable bills.
Comparing plans every year
Medicare Advantage and Part D plan costs and formularies can change year to year even if you don't switch plans. Reviewing your options during Fall AEP 2026 (Oct 15 - Dec 7) is one of the simplest ways to catch a cost increase before it hits your budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Medicare Part B premium in 2026?
The standard Medicare Part B premium in 2026 is $202.90 per month. Higher-income beneficiaries pay more through IRMAA surcharges, based on income reported two years prior (2024 tax returns).
What is the Medicare Part A deductible in 2026?
The 2026 Part A deductible is $1,676 per benefit period. This is what you pay before Part A coverage kicks in for an inpatient hospital stay — it's not an annual deductible, but a per-benefit-period one, so it can apply more than once a year.
Do I have to pay a premium for Medicare Part A?
Most people don't. If you or a spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 40 quarters (10 years), Part A is premium-free. If you have 30-39 quarters, the 2026 Part A premium is $285/month. With fewer than 30 quarters, it's $518/month.
What is IRMAA and how much could it cost me?
IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount) is a surcharge added to Part B and Part D premiums for higher-income beneficiaries. It's based on your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) from two years prior, and it's tiered — the more you earn, the more you pay, up to several times the standard premium at the highest tiers.
What is the Part D out-of-pocket cap in 2026?
As of 2026, Part D has a $2,100 annual out-of-pocket cap on covered prescription drugs. Once you hit that cap, you pay nothing more for covered Part D drugs for the rest of the calendar year — a result of the Inflation Reduction Act's Medicare drug pricing reforms.
What is the Part B deductible in 2026?
The 2026 Part B annual deductible is $283. After you meet it, Medicare generally pays 80% of Medicare-approved costs for covered services, and you're responsible for the remaining 20% coinsurance, unless you have a Medigap policy or Medicare Advantage plan that covers it.
Want help estimating your actual costs?
Kayla Price is a licensed insurance agent (NPN 18530055) who can walk through your specific numbers with you — no pressure, no obligation. Call (866) 648-1578.
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