How much does Medicare cost in 2026?
For most people: Part A is premium-free, Part B runs $202.90 a month, and your plan choice determines the rest. Here are the 2026 numbers that matter, and the cost most people forget to plan for.
$0 a month, for most
Premium-free if you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes for 10 or more years. The hospital deductible is $1,736 per benefit period, which can repeat within a year. Fewer than 40 quarters of work history means a monthly premium of up to $518.
$202.90 a month
The standard premium, taken from your Social Security check if you receive one. The annual deductible is $283, then Medicare pays 80% of approved outpatient costs. Higher incomes pay an income surcharge called IRMAA.
Capped at $2,100
Drug plan premiums vary by plan and ZIP code. The good news: your out-of-pocket cost for covered prescriptions is capped at $2,100 for the year, a protection that did not exist a few years ago.
The number nobody quotes: no cap
Original Medicare by itself has no out-of-pocket maximum. There is no ceiling on your 20% share of outpatient costs in a bad year. That single fact drives the whole plan decision.
The two fixes: Medicare Advantage plans include a yearly cap, which in 2026 can be as high as $9,250 in network, though many plans set it lower. Medicare Supplements instead prepay the risk as a steady monthly premium so bad years look like good years. Which trade suits you is a conversation, not a formula. Compare the two routes.
Related questions
Will these numbers change next year? +
Yes, Medicare resets premiums, deductibles, and caps every year. We update this page each fall and review every client’s costs during the Oct 15 to Dec 7 enrollment window.
What is IRMAA? +
An income-based surcharge on Part B and Part D premiums. In 2026 it starts when modified adjusted gross income tops $109,000 for a single filer, based on your tax return from two years ago. More on IRMAA here.
Is Medicare ever completely free? +
Part A usually is. Part B never is, though some people with limited income and assets qualify for Medicare Savings Programs that pay the premium. Ask us; we will tell you straight if you might qualify.
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