Medicare costs went up in 2026, and the numbers matter for your budget. Here is exactly what you will pay and how income affects it.
How much is the Medicare Part B premium in 2026?
The standard Medicare Part B premium for 2026 is $202.90 per month, an increase of $17.90 from the $185.00 charged in 2025. Most people pay this standard amount, which is typically deducted automatically from a Social Security check. CMS attributes the increase mainly to projected price changes and expected growth in the use of covered services. If your income is above certain thresholds, you pay an additional income-related surcharge called IRMAA on top of the $202.90 base. To talk through what your premium will be and how to plan for it, call 1-800-MEDIGAP (1-800-633-4427) and speak with a licensed agent.
What is the 2026 Medicare Part B deductible?
The annual Medicare Part B deductible in 2026 is $283, up $26 from $257 in 2025. You pay this $283 out of pocket each calendar year before Original Medicare begins paying its share of covered outpatient services like doctor visits, lab tests, and durable medical equipment. After you meet the deductible, you generally owe 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for most Part B services, with no annual cap under Original Medicare alone. A Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy can cover that 20% coinsurance and, depending on the plan, the deductible too. Call 1-800-MEDIGAP to compare your options.
What are the 2026 IRMAA income brackets?
IRMAA — the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount — is an extra charge added to your Part B and Part D premiums if your income is high. For 2026, IRMAA begins when your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) exceeds $109,000 for single filers or $218,000 for joint filers. Importantly, your 2026 IRMAA is based on your 2024 tax return, because Social Security uses a two-year income lookback. Surcharges climb across five tiers, pushing the highest earners' total Part B premium to $689.90 per month in 2026. If a life event lowered your income, you can appeal IRMAA using Form SSA-44.
What is the 2026 Medicare Part A deductible and cost?
Most people pay $0 for Medicare Part A because they or a spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 40 quarters (10 years). If you do not qualify for premium-free Part A, you pay up to $518 per month in 2026. The 2026 Part A inpatient hospital deductible is $1,736 per benefit period, up $60 from $1,676 in 2025. After that, you owe $0 for days 1-60, then $434 per day for days 61-90, and $868 per day for lifetime reserve days. Skilled nursing facility coinsurance is $217.00 per day for days 21-100.
How can a Medigap plan reduce your 2026 Medicare costs?
Original Medicare leaves you exposed to the 20% Part B coinsurance, the $1,736 Part A deductible, and hospital coinsurance — with no out-of-pocket maximum. A Medigap (Medicare Supplement) plan fills these gaps so your costs are predictable. Plan G, for example, covers nearly everything after the small $283 Part B deductible, including the 20% coinsurance and Part A deductible. Premiums vary by plan, ZIP code, age, and health, so there is no single price. A licensed agent at 1-800-MEDIGAP (1-800-633-4427) can shop multiple carriers and quote real numbers for your situation in one call.