How Much Does Medicare Cost in 2026?

Medicare isn't free, even if you've paid into it your whole working life. Most people pay nothing for Part A, but Part B has a monthly premium, and there are deductibles and coinsurance on top of that. Here's what every part of Medicare costs in 2026.

Part A Costs

Premium: $0 for most people (if you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes for 40+ quarters). Otherwise $295/month (30-39 quarters) or $535/month (under 30 quarters). Deductible: $1,736 per benefit period. Hospital coinsurance: $0 for days 1-60 after the deductible, $434/day for days 61-90, $868/day for lifetime reserve days (60 total). Skilled nursing coinsurance: $0 for days 1-20 after a qualifying hospital stay, $217/day for days 21-100.

Part B Costs

Standard premium: $202.90 per month (up from $185.00 in 2025). Higher-income beneficiaries pay more through IRMAA surcharges based on modified adjusted gross income from two years prior. Annual deductible: $283. After the deductible, you pay 20% coinsurance for most Part B services with no cap on out-of-pocket costs under Original Medicare.

Part D Costs

Part D premiums vary by plan (national average around $40-50/month). Standard deductible: $615. After the deductible, you pay copays or coinsurance until you hit the $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap (Inflation Reduction Act). Once you've spent $2,000 on drugs, the plan covers 100%. Insulin is capped at $35/month regardless of where you are in the coverage stages.

Medicare Advantage Costs

You still pay the Part B premium ($202.90). MA plan premiums average $14/month, and 67% of plans are $0. You face copays and coinsurance when you use care, but there's an annual out-of-pocket cap of $9,250 in-network. Once you hit that, the plan pays 100% for the rest of the year.

Medigap Costs

If you pair Original Medicare with a Medigap supplement, add the Medigap premium on top of Part B. Plan G (the most popular) typically costs $100 to $300+ per month depending on your age, location, and the insurer. With Plan G, your only out-of-pocket cost beyond premiums is the $283 Part B deductible each year. Medigap doesn't cover prescriptions, so you'll also need a Part D plan.