Medicare costs in 2026
The premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance Medicare sets each year. 2027 amounts are announced in the fall, usually in November.
- Part B premium
- $202.90
- a month, for most people
- Part B deductible
- $283
- a year
- Part A deductible
- $1,736
- per hospital stay (benefit period)
- Drug cost cap
- $2,100
- a year in Part D ($2,400 in 2027)
Part B: doctors and outpatient care
| Monthly premiumMost people pay this. It’s usually taken from your Social Security check. Higher incomes pay more (below). | $202.90 |
| Yearly deductible | $283 |
| After the deductibleThere’s no yearly limit in Original Medicare. Medigap or a Medicare Advantage plan caps it. | 20% of the Medicare-approved amount |
Part A: hospital and skilled nursing
| Monthly premiumIf you or your spouse worked under 10 years (40 quarters): $311 with 30 to 39 quarters, $565 with fewer. | $0 for most people |
| Hospital deductibleA benefit period ends after you’ve been out of the hospital and skilled nursing for 60 days in a row, so you can pay it more than once a year. | $1,736 per benefit period |
| Hospital days 1 to 60 | $0 after the deductible |
| Hospital days 61 to 90 | $434 a day |
| Days 91 and beyondUsing up to 60 lifetime reserve days. After that, you pay everything. | $868 a day |
| Skilled nursing days 1 to 20After a qualifying hospital stay of at least 3 days as an inpatient. | $0 |
| Skilled nursing days 21 to 100Medicare pays nothing after day 100 in a benefit period. | $217 a day |
| HospiceUp to $5 per prescription for symptom control, and 5% for respite care. | $0 |
Staying overnight under “observation” is outpatient care billed under Part B, and it doesn’t count toward the 3-day stay. Ask whether you’ve been admitted.
Part D: prescription drugs
| Monthly premiumThe national base premium, used for late penalties, is $38.99 ($41.33 in 2027). | Set by each plan |
| Yearly deductibleUp to $700 in 2027. Many plans charge less or none, especially for cheaper drug tiers. | Up to $615 |
| Most you’ll pay for covered drugs$2,400 in 2027. After that, covered drugs are $0 for the rest of the year. You can spread costs into monthly payments with the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. | $2,100 a year |
| InsulinFor each covered insulin, with no deductible. | $35 or less a month |
Medicare Advantage and Medigap
| Medicare Advantage in-network limitEach plan sets its own limit at or below this. You still pay the Part B premium. | Up to $9,250 a year |
| Medigap Plan K / Plan L yearly limitPlus the Part B deductible. Other Medigap plans have no limit because they pay most or all of your share. | $8,000 / $4,000 |
Higher incomes pay more (IRMAA)
Your 2026 premiums depend on the income on your 2024 tax return. These are surcharges, not penalties, and they stop if your income drops below a tier.
How you filed taxes for 2024
Enter the modified adjusted gross income from your 2024 tax return: adjusted gross income plus tax-exempt interest.
| 2024 income | Part B a month | Part D extra |
|---|---|---|
| Single: $109,000 or lessJoint: $218,000 or less | $202.90 | $0 |
| Single: $109,001 to $137,000Joint: $218,001 to $274,000 | $284.10 | +$14.50 |
| Single: $137,001 to $171,000Joint: $274,001 to $342,000 | $405.80 | +$37.50 |
| Single: $171,001 to $205,000Joint: $342,001 to $410,000 | $527.50 | +$60.40 |
| Single: $205,001 to $499,999Joint: $410,001 to $749,999 | $649.20 | +$83.30 |
| Single: $500,000 or moreJoint: $750,000 or more | $689.90 | +$91.00 |
Married and filing separately (and lived with your spouse): $202.90 up to $109,000, then $649.20 under $391,000 and $689.90 above.
Costs too high?
Medicare Savings Programs can pay your Part B premium, and sometimes your deductibles and coinsurance. Extra Help lowers drug costs. Many people who qualify never apply.
Amounts from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ 2026 announcements. See Medicare.gov: Medicare costs.