2026 Cost Guide
What Medicare costs in 2026
Every official 2026 number in one place - Part A, Part B, the drug cap, IRMAA, and the penalties - explained like a neighbor would.
What Medicare actually costs in 2026
These are the official 2026 figures set by Medicare (CMS). Your total depends on the path you choose - Medicare Advantage or Medigap plus Part D - so use this page for the baseline numbers, then let Priscilla price your real total for free.
- Part B standard premium: $202.90 per month; annual deductible $283.
- Part A: premium-free for most people; inpatient deductible $1,736 per benefit period.
- Part D: deductible capped at $615; your out-of-pocket drug costs are capped at $2,100 for the year.
- Higher incomes pay IRMAA surcharges starting above $109,000 (single) / $218,000 (married filing jointly).
- Every figure on this page resets each January - Priscilla re-checks costs with clients every fall, free.
Part A costs (hospital insurance)
| Part A item | 2026 amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly premium with 40+ quarters of work history (most people) | $0 |
| Monthly premium with 30-39 quarters | $311 |
| Monthly premium with fewer than 30 quarters | $565 |
| Inpatient hospital deductible (per benefit period) | $1,736 |
| Hospital coinsurance, days 61-90 (per day) | $434 |
| Hospital coinsurance, lifetime reserve days (per day) | $868 |
| Skilled nursing facility coinsurance, days 21-100 (per day) | $217 |
Part B costs (medical insurance)
| Part B item | 2026 amount |
|---|---|
| Standard monthly premium | $202.90 |
| Annual deductible | $283 |
| Coinsurance after deductible | 20% of the Medicare-approved amount |
Original Medicare's 20 percent coinsurance has no annual cap - that open-ended exposure is exactly what a Medicare Supplement exists to cover, and what Medicare Advantage plans limit with an annual out-of-pocket maximum.
Part D drug costs
| Part D item | 2026 amount |
|---|---|
| Maximum plan deductible | $615 |
| Annual out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs | $2,100 |
| After you reach the cap | $0 for covered drugs the rest of the year |
Two newer protections matter here: the annual out-of-pocket cap (there is no more "donut hole"), and the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, which lets you spread drug costs across the year in monthly installments instead of paying large amounts at the pharmacy counter. Priscilla checks both against your medication list - see the Part D guide for how plans differ.
Higher incomes: the IRMAA surcharge
If your modified adjusted gross income from two years ago exceeds $109,000 (single) or $218,000 (married filing jointly), you pay an income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA) on top of Part B and Part D premiums. The first tier alone adds $81.20 per month to Part B in 2026, for a total of $284.10. If your income has dropped since then because of retirement or another life change, you can appeal with Social Security using form SSA-44 - something Priscilla reminds newly retired clients about constantly.
Late penalties (the permanent kind)
- Part B: premiums rise 10 percent for each full 12-month period you delayed without creditable employer coverage - for as long as you have Part B.
- Part D: 1 percent of the national base premium ($38.99 in 2026) for each month without creditable drug coverage, added permanently.
Enrolling on time makes both penalties a non-issue. The enrollment periods guide shows every window, and the Turning 65 checklist keeps first-timers on schedule.
Numbers are the easy part. Fit is the hard part.
The same 2026 numbers produce very different totals depending on the plan around them. Priscilla prices your actual doctors, drugs, and zip code across 8 carriers - free, and in plain English.
Figures are the official 2026 amounts published by CMS and Social Security and are updated on this page each plan year. Last reviewed July 11, 2026.
Answers, In Plain English
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Medicare Part B premium for 2026?
Is Medicare Part A really free?
How much can I be forced to spend on prescriptions in 2026?
Can I lower these costs if my income is limited?
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