How much is the Medicare Part B premium in 2026?

The standard premium is $202.90 a month in 2026. Most people have it deducted from their Social Security check. Higher-income households pay more — see the income section below.

What is the Part B deductible in 2026?

$283 for the year. After you meet it, Part B generally pays 80% of the approved amount for covered services and you pay 20%, though some services work differently.

Do I pay a premium for Part A?

Most people don't. If you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 40 quarters (about 10 years), Part A has no premium. If you have to buy it, the full 2026 premium is $565 a month, or $311 with 30–39 quarters. The hospital deductible is $1,736 per benefit period in 2026.

What about drug coverage and Medigap — what do those cost?

Those have their own monthly premiums, and they vary by plan and by county — Greensboro and Winston-Salem can have different options. That's exactly the kind of comparison a personal review is for: we look at your prescriptions and budget against the actual plans available where you live.

Can my Part B premium be higher because of my income?

Yes. If your income from two years ago was above certain thresholds, Social Security adds an income-related monthly adjustment (IRMAA) to your Part B — and Part D — premium. But if your income has dropped since then, for example because you retired, you can ask Social Security to review it. There's more on that on the premium review page.

What happens if I sign up for Part B late?

If you delay Part B without coverage that lets you wait — generally a group health plan based on current employment — the premium usually goes up 10% for each full year you waited, and that increase is permanent. Going without drug coverage for 63 days or more after your window can add a separate monthly penalty too.

Greensboro & the Triad

What does Medicare actually cost?

Premiums, deductibles, and the penalties that raise them — the 2026 numbers, explained in plain English.

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The short answer

These are the 2026 figures CMS announced in November 2025. They change a little most years, so treat this as the current picture — not a permanent one.

Part B

$202.90 a month is the standard premium, with a $283 annual deductible. Most people have the premium deducted from Social Security.

Part A

No premium for most people — you earned it through payroll taxes. A hospital stay carries a $1,736 deductible per benefit period in 2026.

Part D & beyond

Drug plans, Medigap, and Medicare Advantage have their own premiums that vary by plan and county. That comparison is where a personal review earns its keep.

When your income changes the Part B premium

Social Security looks at your tax return from two years ago. If that income was above certain thresholds, a monthly adjustment (called IRMAA) is added to your Part B — and Part D — premium. The 2026 figures use your 2024 return.

Here's the part people miss: if your income has droppedsince that tax year — because you retired, your spouse stopped working, or another big life change — you can ask Social Security to recalculate using your current situation. It's a standard request, and it often lowers the premium back down. How to request a premium review walks through it.

Two ways people accidentally pay more

Delaying Part B without qualifying coverage

Miss your window without coverage that lets you wait, and the premium usually rises 10% for each full year you delayed — permanently. Still working with a group plan based on current employment is the usual exception. Your enrollment dates

Going without drug coverage

Go 63 days or more without qualifying drug coverage after your enrollment window, and a penalty gets added to your Part D premium for as long as you have it. The amount is based on 1% of the national base premium per uncovered month.

Medicare help near you

Common questions

How much is the Medicare Part B premium in 2026?: The standard premium is $202.90 a month in 2026. Most people have it deducted from their Social Security check. Higher-income households pay more — see the income section below.
What is the Part B deductible in 2026?: $283 for the year. After you meet it, Part B generally pays 80% of the approved amount for covered services and you pay 20%, though some services work differently.
Do I pay a premium for Part A?: Most people don't. If you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 40 quarters (about 10 years), Part A has no premium. If you have to buy it, the full 2026 premium is $565 a month, or $311 with 30–39 quarters. The hospital deductible is $1,736 per benefit period in 2026.
What about drug coverage and Medigap — what do those cost?: Those have their own monthly premiums, and they vary by plan and by county — Greensboro and Winston-Salem can have different options. That's exactly the kind of comparison a personal review is for: we look at your prescriptions and budget against the actual plans available where you live.
Can my Part B premium be higher because of my income?: Yes. If your income from two years ago was above certain thresholds, Social Security adds an income-related monthly adjustment (IRMAA) to your Part B — and Part D — premium. But if your income has dropped since then, for example because you retired, you can ask Social Security to review it. There's more on that on the premium review page.
What happens if I sign up for Part B late?: If you delay Part B without coverage that lets you wait — generally a group health plan based on current employment — the premium usually goes up 10% for each full year you waited, and that increase is permanent. Going without drug coverage for 63 days or more after your window can add a separate monthly penalty too.

Let's put real numbers on your situation

Premiums, prescriptions, and doctors — we'll look at what Medicare would actually cost you, during a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.

(336) 365-7422 Request a consultation →

Free consultation in person or by phone. Calls and appointments 8am to 7pm, Monday through Saturday, Eastern time.

Wondering how the two main paths compare on cost? Medicare Advantage compared with Medigap explains the trade-offs. And if your income recently changed, requesting a premium review may lower your Part B premium.