Medicare Costs in 2026

How paying for Medicare works

At work, you probably paid one premium that covered your doctor, hospital and drug coverage together. Medicare is different. Each part has its own costs, and what you pay depends on the coverage you choose and, for some parts, your income. Here are the numbers for 2026.

Part A premium

Most people pay no premium for Part A. If you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years (40 quarters), you get "premium-free Part A." A simple rule of thumb: if you qualify for Social Security retirement benefits, you almost certainly qualify for premium-free Part A.

If you do need to buy Part A, the 2026 premium is $311 a month if you worked 30 to 39 quarters, or $565 a month if you worked fewer than 30.

Part A hospital costs

Part A costs are counted by "benefit period." A benefit period starts the day you're admitted and ends after you've been out of the hospital or a skilled nursing facility for 60 days in a row. In 2026, for each benefit period you pay:

• A $1,736 deductible, which covers days 1 through 60 in the hospital
• $434 per day for days 61 through 90
• $868 per day after day 90, using your 60 lifetime reserve days
• Nothing for the first 20 days in a skilled nursing facility, then up to $217 per day for days 21 through 100

A Medicare Supplement plan can cover most or all of these costs.

Part B premium

The standard Part B premium for 2026 is $202.90 a month. If you receive Social Security, Railroad Retirement or federal retirement (OPM) benefits, the premium is taken out of your payment automatically. If not, Medicare will bill you, and you can pay online or set up automatic payments.

Higher premiums for higher incomes (IRMAA)

If your income is above a certain level, you'll pay more for Part B and Part D. This extra charge is called the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, or IRMAA. In 2026 it applies if your modified adjusted gross income was more than $109,000 as a single filer or $218,000 filing jointly.

Medicare uses your tax return from two years earlier, so 2026 premiums are based on your 2024 income. That income includes things like wages, pensions, taxable retirement account withdrawals, interest, dividends and capital gains.

Social Security will send you a letter if IRMAA applies to you. If your income has dropped because of a life-changing event, such as retiring, divorce or the death of a spouse, you can ask Social Security to use your newer income by filing form SSA-44. Medicare.gov lists the full 2026 IRMAA amounts for each income level.

Part B deductible and your 20% share

The Part B deductible for 2026 is $283. After that, you usually pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for doctor visits, outpatient care, tests and medical equipment. Original Medicare has no out-of-pocket maximum, which is the main reason many people add a Medicare Supplement plan.

Thrive 65 tip: avoid the Part B late penalty

If you delay Part B without qualifying coverage from a current employer, your premium goes up 10% for each full 12 months you went without it, for as long as you have Part B. If you're still working at 65, talk with us before you decide to wait.

Part D drug plan costs

Part D premiums are set by each insurance company and vary by plan and by where you live. Some plans cost a few dollars a month; others cost $100 or more. Medicare projected the average Part D premium at about $34.50 a month for 2026. Many Medicare Advantage plans include drug coverage in their premium, and some have no premium at all.

Other 2026 Part D numbers to know:

• The deductible can be no more than $615. Some plans charge less, or nothing.
• Once your out-of-pocket costs for covered drugs reach $2,100, you pay nothing more for covered drugs for the rest of the year.
• Covered insulin costs no more than $35 for a month's supply.
• People with higher incomes pay an IRMAA amount on top of their plan premium, using the same income levels as Part B.

Get a personal cost estimate

Your Medicare costs depend on your health, your income and the plans you choose. We'll help you estimate what you'd pay in a year and compare your options side by side. Call 702-768-7999 or send us a message, and a licensed advocate will follow up.