2026 MEDICARE UPDATES

What Does Medicare
Actually Cost?

Medicare isn’t always free.

Depending on your coverage, you may have premiums, deductibles, copays, coinsurance, prescription drug costs, and possibly an additional amount based on your income.

That income-related amount is called IRMAA.

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MEDICARE COSTS FOR 2026

Medicare Costs for 2026

Here are the basic 2026 costs for Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D. Some costs vary by plan and location.

PART A

$0 Monthly Premium

Most people qualify for premium-free Part A because they or their spouse paid Medicare taxes long enough while working.

If you don’t qualify for premium-free Part A: $311 or $565 per month (depending on work history)
2026 hospital deductible: $1,736 per benefit period
After the deductible: Days 1–60: $0 hospital coinsurance
Days 61–90: $434 per day
Lifetime Reserve Days: $868 per day

PART B

$202.90/mo

2026 standard monthly premium for Part B.

2026 annual deductible: $283
After meeting the Part B deductible, people with Original Medicare generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for most covered Part B services.
Some people pay more than the standard $202.90 premium because of their income. That additional amount is called IRMAA.

PART C

Varies

Medicare Advantage plan costs vary by plan and location.

Premiums, deductibles, copays, coinsurance, provider networks, prescription drug coverage, and benefits vary by plan.
You must have Medicare Part B and continue paying your Part B premium while enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan.

PART D

Varies

Part D premiums vary by plan.

2026 maximum Part D deductible: $615 (some plans have a lower deductible or no deductible)
2026 out-of-pocket threshold for covered Part D prescription drugs: $2,100
After reaching the applicable out-of-pocket threshold, the beneficiary enters catastrophic coverage and pays no cost sharing for covered Part D drugs for the remainder of the year.
Some higher-income beneficiaries also pay an additional Part D amount because of IRMAA.

WHAT IS IRMAA?

What Is IRMAA?

IRMAA stands for Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount.

It is an additional amount that some people with higher incomes pay for Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D.

IRMAA does not change your Medicare coverage. It changes how much you may pay for Part B and Part D based on income.

Social Security determines whether IRMAA applies.

We do not display IRMAA income brackets on this website.

OFFICIAL MEDICARE.GOV TOOL

Wondering What Your Part B Premium Could Be?

Rather than trying to calculate it here, use Medicare.gov’s official premium estimator.

The Medicare.gov tool can help you estimate your Medicare Part B premium based on your individual situation.

Why could your Part B premium be higher?

The standard Part B premium in 2026 is $202.90 per month. Some people pay more because of their income.

Social Security generally uses tax information from two years earlier when determining whether an income-related adjustment applies. If your income has changed because of a major life event, you may be able to ask Social Security to reconsider the amount.

Medicare.gov Premium Estimator

Use the official Medicare.gov tool to estimate your Part B premium.

Estimate My Medicare Premium

Official Medicare.gov resource.

HAS YOUR INCOME GONE DOWN?

Has Your Income Gone Down?

If Social Security based your Medicare premium on older income that no longer reflects your current financial situation, certain life-changing events may allow you to request a new IRMAA determination.