How much is the Medicare Part B premium in 2026?

The standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90 per month in 2026. Income-related surcharges or late enrollment penalties can increase your monthly payment.

What is the Part B deductible in 2026?

The Medicare Part B deductible is $283 in 2026. After meeting it, you generally pay 20% of approved costs for covered outpatient services.

Do I pay a premium for Part A?

Most people qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A through work history. In 2026, people buying Part A pay $311 or $565 monthly, depending on eligibility.

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

Medicare Part D and Medigap premiums depend on the policy and your circumstances. Compare current quotes, prescription coverage, and total costs before choosing coverage.

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

Social Security may add an income-related surcharge to Medicare premiums using an earlier tax return. Certain life-changing events permit a request for reconsideration.

What happens if I sign up for Part B late?

Without an applicable exception, Medicare Part B premiums generally increase 10% for each full year of delayed enrollment. The penalty usually lasts throughout coverage.

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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.

Figures current as of October 2026 · source: CMS.

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 Medicare Part B premium is $202.90 per month in 2026. Income-related surcharges or late enrollment penalties can increase your monthly payment.
What is the Part B deductible in 2026?: The Medicare Part B deductible is $283 in 2026. After meeting it, you generally pay 20% of approved costs for covered outpatient services.
Do I pay a premium for Part A?: Most people qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A through work history. In 2026, people buying Part A pay $311 or $565 monthly, depending on eligibility.
What about drug coverage and Medigap, what do those cost?: Medicare Part D and Medigap premiums depend on the policy and your circumstances. Compare current quotes, prescription coverage, and total costs before choosing coverage.
Can my Part B premium be higher because of my income?: Social Security may add an income-related surcharge to Medicare premiums using an earlier tax return. Certain life-changing events permit a request for reconsideration.
What happens if I sign up for Part B late?: Without an applicable exception, Medicare Part B premiums generally increase 10% for each full year of delayed enrollment. The penalty usually lasts throughout coverage.

Christian BrinkleyNC Life & Health · Greensboro, NC

Let's put real numbers on your situation

Premiums, prescriptions, and doctors: I’ll look at what Medicare would actually cost you, during a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.

Call Christian's direct line: (919) 408-6671 Book a 45-minute phone review Or send a question

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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. Wondering what Medicare pays toward a nursing home stay? Does Medicare cover nursing homes breaks down the 100-day rule and what it does not cover.