What Medicare Part B costs in 2026
Part B is Medicare's "medical insurance" — it covers doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, lab work, and durable medical equipment. Unlike Part A, most people pay a monthly premium for Part B, and that premium is the number most retirees first want to know.
The standard Part B monthly premium for 2026 is $202.90, or $2,434.80 for the year — up $17.90 from $185.00 in 2025, an increase of just under 10%[1]. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) attributes the rise to historical trends in pricing and utilization of care.
Before Original Medicare starts paying for most Part B services, you'll also cover the annual Part B deductible of $283, up $26 from $257 in 2025[1]. After you meet it, you typically pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for covered services, assuming your provider accepts assignment.
| Part B cost | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Standard monthly premium | $185.00 | $202.90 |
| Annual deductible | $257 | $283 |
What Medicare Part A costs in 2026
Part A is hospital insurance — it covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and some home health care. The good news is that about 99% of beneficiaries pay no Part A premium because they (or a spouse) accumulated at least 40 quarters of Medicare-covered work[2].
The cost you actually feel is the deductible and coinsurance when you use hospital care. In 2026, the inpatient hospital deductible is $1,736 per benefit period, up from $1,676[2]. A "benefit period" starts the day you're admitted as an inpatient and ends after you've been out of the hospital or a skilled nursing facility for 60 consecutive days — so a long stay or a second admission later in the year can trigger the deductible again.
| Part A cost sharing | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Inpatient hospital deductible (per benefit period) | $1,736 |
| Hospital coinsurance per day, days 61–90 | $434 |
| Lifetime reserve day coinsurance (per day) | $868 |
| Skilled nursing facility coinsurance per day, days 21–100 | $217 |
If you don't qualify for premium-free Part A, you can still buy it. Enrollees with 30 to 39 quarters of coverage pay a reduced premium of $311 a month in 2026, while those with fewer than 30 quarters pay the full premium of $565 a month[2].
IRMAA: the income-based surcharge
Higher-income enrollees pay an income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA) on top of the standard Part B premium. For 2026, IRMAA kicks in when your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is above $109,000 for an individual return or $218,000 for a joint return — based on the tax return from two years earlier, so 2026 premiums use your 2024 return[3]. CMS estimates about 8% of Part B enrollees pay it.
| Individual income (MAGI) | Joint income (MAGI) | Total Part B per month |
|---|---|---|
| $109,000 or less | $218,000 or less | $202.90 |
| Over $109,000 to $137,000 | Over $218,000 to $274,000 | $284.10 |
| Over $137,000 to $171,000 | Over $274,000 to $342,000 | $405.80 |
| Over $171,000 to $205,000 | Over $342,000 to $410,000 | $527.50 |
| Over $205,000 to under $500,000 | Over $410,000 to under $750,000 | $649.20 |
| $500,000 or more | $750,000 or more | $689.90 |
Part D prescription drug coverage carries its own income-based adjustment of $14.50 to $91.00 a month, paid in addition to your drug plan's own premium[3]. If your income has fallen since your 2024 return — because of retirement, reduced hours, marriage, divorce, or the death of a spouse — you can ask Social Security to use more recent income and lower or remove the surcharge[3].
What Medicare actually adds up to
For a typical enrollee who pays the standard premium and doesn't hit IRMAA, the baseline in 2026 is $2,434.80 a year in Part B premiums before any care is used[1]. That's the floor, not the total: each year you'd also meet the $283 Part B deductible, and any hospital stay starts with the $1,736 Part A deductible. After those, your share is the 20% Part B coinsurance and any Part A daily coinsurance for longer stays.
Because those out-of-pocket costs have no annual cap under Original Medicare, many people add a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) plan or choose a Medicare Advantage plan instead — each with its own premium, networks, and cost-sharing. The right choice depends on your health, your budget, and where you live, which is why the headline premium is only one part of the real annual number.
FAQ
How much does Medicare cost per month in 2026?
The standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month, and most people pay nothing for Part A. Your total monthly cost can be higher if you pay IRMAA, buy Part A, add a Part D drug plan, or choose a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan with its own premium.
What is the Medicare Part B deductible for 2026?
$283, up $26 from 2025. You pay it once a year before Original Medicare begins paying its share of Part B services, after which you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount.
Do I have to pay for Medicare Part A?
Not for about 99% of people. If you have at least 40 quarters of Medicare-covered work history, Part A is premium-free. Otherwise, you can buy in at $311 a month (30–39 quarters) or $565 a month (fewer than 30 quarters) in 2026.
What is IRMAA and how do I know if I pay it?
IRMAA is an income-related surcharge added to Part B (and Part D) for higher earners. For 2026 it applies when your modified adjusted gross income is over $109,000 (individual) or $218,000 (joint), based on your 2024 tax return. Social Security sends a notice if you're affected.
Sources
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services — 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles fact sheet (Nov 14, 2025) — cms.gov
- Medicare.gov — Medicare costs (Part A deductible, coinsurance, and premium amounts) — medicare.gov
- Social Security Administration — Medicare premiums: rules for higher-income beneficiaries (IRMAA) — ssa.gov