2026: What are your Medicare premiums and out-of-pocket costs?

The federal government is raising the Part B Medicare premium to $202.90 in 2026, almost 10 percent more than this year and way higher than the rate of inflation. Under the law, people with Medicare pay a premium amount that represents 25 percent of the cost of Part B. Other out-of-pocket costs for people with Medicare are rising significantly as well.

On average, Social Security benefits are rising $56 a month, slightly less than 3 percent. So, the Medicare Part B premium increase of $18 a month is factored in, people with Medicare will see a net monthly increase in their Social Security checks of $38.

Note: Medicare only covers about half of a typical person’s health care costs. People with Medicare generally pay a monthly Medicare Part B premium, about 16 percent of their medical and inpatient costs out of pocket (or through supplemental coverage: Medigap, Medicaid or retiree insurance) as well as some or all of the cost of dental, vision, hearing and long-term care services. Here’s what you need to know.

Everyone with Medicare pays Medicare Part B premiums, whether enrolled in Traditional Medicare or a Medicare HMO, PPO or other “Medicare Advantage” plan. Medicare Part B covers outpatient services, including physician care, lab tests, outpatient hospital care and injectable drugs. People in Medicare Advantage sometimes pay an additional Part C premium and sometimes pay no additional premium.

Part B premiums in 2026:
In 2026, people whose modified adjusted gross income from two years ago as reported on their federal tax return is $109,000 or less pay a monthly Part B premium of $202.90, an increase of $17.90.

People with incomes above $109,000–about eight percent of the Medicare population–pay a Medicare Part B premium of:

$284.10 a month, if their income is above $109,000 and no more than $137,000.
$405.80 a month, if their income is above $137,000 and no more than $171,000.
$527.50 a month, if their income is above $171,000 and no more than $205,000.
$649.20 a month, if their income is above $205,000 and less than $500,000.
$689.90 a month, if their income is $500,000 or more.

For couples with combined incomes of $400,000 or less two years ago, filing a joint tax return, the premium amount doubles. Couples filing jointly with annual incomes above $410,000 and less than $750,000 each pay a $649.20 monthly premium. And, couples with annual incomes of $750,000 and above each pay a $689.90 monthly premium. Visit this CMS web site for your Part B premium amount if you are filing separate returns.

Medicare Part B annual deductible: $283, an increase of $26 from the annual deductible of $257 in 2025.

For more than four decades, the Medicare Part B premium (medical insurance) was the same for everyone regardless of income, geography or health status, a quarter of the cost of Part B services. (Medicare Part A, hospital insurance, is premium-free if you have contributed into Social Security for at least 40 quarters.) In 2007, wealthier people with Medicare began paying higher premiums.

Here are 2026 Medicare Part A costs:

There is no Medicare Part A premium if you or your spouse are among the 99 percent of people with Medicare who have at least 40 quarters of Medicare-covered employment.
The Medicare Part A inpatient hospital deductible is $1,736, in 2026, and coinsurance for hospitalizations after day 60 is $434 a day in a benefit period; coinsurance for lifetime reserve days is $868 a day.
The Medicare Part A daily coinsurance for skilled nursing facility stays after day 20 is $217.

Extra Help paying your Medicare premiums and out-of-pocket costs: People with low incomes and assets have help paying these costs through Medicaid and the Medicare Savings Program. You should apply through your Medicaid office, if you think you might be eligible.

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