Medicare Costs 2026

Updated April 2026 · Premiums, deductibles, IRMAA, Medigap rates, the new $2,000 Part D cap

Every Medicare cost number you need for 2026 in one place. Pulled from CMS, IRS IRMAA tables, and current Medigap market data.

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Part B Standard Premium
$185/mo
Up from $174.70 in 2025
Part B Deductible
$257
Annual, before 80% kicks in
Part A Deductible
$1,676
Per benefit period
Part D OOP Cap
$2,000
New annual maximum (IRA)
Medigap Plan G
$110–$200/mo
Age 65, non-smoker, varies by state
Part D Standalone
$40–$60/mo
Average national range
MA-PD Premium
$0–$30/mo
Most popular plans $0
MA Out-of-Pocket Max
$3K–$8.85K
Set by plan, capped at $9,350 in-network

Medicare Part A — Hospital Insurance

Item2026 CostNotes
Standard premium$0For most enrollees (40+ quarters Medicare-taxed work)
Premium if 30-39 quarters$295/moReduced rate
Premium if <30 quarters$535/moFull rate
Inpatient deductible$1,676Per benefit period (not annual)
Days 1-60 coinsurance$0After deductible
Days 61-90 coinsurance$419/day
Days 91+ (lifetime reserve)$838/day60-day lifetime reserve
Skilled nursing days 21-100$209.50/dayAfter 20 days fully covered

Medicare Part B — Medical Insurance

Item2026 CostNotes
Standard monthly premium$185.00Most enrollees pay this
Annual deductible$257Plan G covers everything ELSE; Plan F covers this too
Coinsurance after deductible20%Of Medicare-approved amount
Late enrollment penalty10% × years latePermanent, added to premium

IRMAA — Income-Based Surcharges

2026 IRMAA is based on your 2024 tax-year MAGI. About 92% of enrollees pay no IRMAA.

2024 MAGI (Single)2024 MAGI (Joint)Part B TotalPart D Surcharge
≤ $106,000≤ $212,000$185.00$0
$106,001 – $133,000$212,001 – $266,000$259.00$13.70
$133,001 – $167,000$266,001 – $334,000$370.00$35.30
$167,001 – $200,000$334,001 – $400,000$480.90$57.00
$200,001 – $499,999$400,001 – $749,999$591.90$78.60
≥ $500,000≥ $750,000$628.90$85.80

📌 IRMAA appeals

If your income dropped significantly (retirement, divorce, death of spouse, work cessation, etc.), you can file Form SSA-44 to request an IRMAA reduction based on more recent income. This is called a "life-changing event" appeal.

Medicare Advantage (Part C) Costs

Item2026 RangeNotes
Plan premium (above Part B)$0–$30/mo typicalMost popular plans $0
Annual deductible$0–$500Plan-set
PCP visit copay$0–$25Plan-set
Specialist copay$30–$60Plan-set
Hospital inpatient (per day)$200–$400Days 1-5 typical
Annual MOOP (in-network)$3,000–$8,850Federal max $9,350
Combined MOOP (PPO)up to $14,000For PPO plans, in+out network

Medicare Part D — The New $2,000 Cap

The Inflation Reduction Act capped Part D out-of-pocket at $2,000/year starting in 2025. This continues in 2026 — a major win for enrollees on expensive medications.

Item2026 CostNotes
Average standalone Part D premium$40–$60/moWide range — cheapest plans $0-$30
Maximum deductible$590Plan-set, $0-$590
Initial coverage (after deductible)25% generic / 25% brandYou pay 25%
Annual out-of-pocket max$2,000NEW — IRA cap, after this $0
Medicare Prescription Payment PlanSpread paymentsOptional — split your $2,000 across 12 months
Late enrollment penalty1% × months late × base premiumPermanent, added to premium

Medigap (Supplement) Premium Ranges

For 65-year-old non-smokers in 2026. Same-letter benefits are federally standardized — variation is by carrier and state.

Plan LetterTypical 2026 Monthly PremiumBest For
Plan G$110–$200Most comprehensive available to new enrollees
Plan N$90–$160Lower premium, small office/ER copays
Plan F$140–$240Closed to those new to Medicare after Jan 1, 2020
High-Deductible Plan G$40–$70$2,870 federal deductible, then 100%
Plan A$80–$150Basic, no Part A deductible coverage

Year-round guaranteed-issue states (NY, MA, CT, ME, VT) tend to see Plan G in the upper end. Birthday-rule states (CA, ID, IL, KY, LA, NV, OK, OR) and standard-rule states see lower averages.

Typical 2026 Monthly Cost — Full Picture

PathMonthly Cost (typical)What's covered
Original Medicare alone$185/moPart B premium only — 20% coinsurance, no drug coverage. Risky.
Medigap Plan G + Part D$335–$445/mo$185 + $50 + ~$140 = predictable, low out-of-pocket, any provider
Medigap Plan N + Part D$315–$405/mo$185 + $50 + ~$120 = small copays, slightly cheaper
HD Plan G + Part D$235–$305/mo$185 + $50 + ~$50 = lowest premium, $2,870 deductible first
Medicare Advantage (MA-PD)$185–$215/mo$185 + $0-$30 = lowest premium, network/copays/MOOP up to $8,850

How to think about Medicare cost in 2026

Premium is only one side of the cost equation. The other is what you pay when you actually use care. Medicare Advantage minimizes premium and maximizes the cost of using care. Medigap maximizes premium and minimizes the cost of using care. Neither is universally cheaper — it depends on how much medical care you'll use.

Rough rule of thumb for 2026: if you spend more than $200/month on medical care over a year (specialist visits, prescriptions, hospital stays), Medigap typically wins on total annual cost. Stay healthy, use minimal care, and Medicare Advantage wins.

Hidden costs people overlook

  • Part D late enrollment penalty. 1% of the national base premium ($36.78 in 2026) per month you went without creditable drug coverage, added to your premium for life. Easy to avoid by enrolling on time.
  • Part B late enrollment penalty. 10% of the standard premium for each 12-month period you went without Part B when eligible. Permanent.
  • IRMAA based on 2-year-old income. If your 2024 income was high but 2026 income is lower, you can file SSA-44 for an appeal.
  • Medigap rate increases. Premiums rise 3-7% annually on most carriers. The cheapest carrier today may not be the cheapest in 5 years.
  • Out-of-network charges on Medicare Advantage. Going outside your plan's network can cost you the full retail price of care. Always check if your providers are in-network before enrolling.

Sources

Federal numbers from CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) 2026 announcements. IRMAA brackets from SSA. Medigap premiums based on 2026 carrier filings across major metros. Medicare Advantage MOOP from CMS 2026 rate announcement.

Related

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Medicare cost in 2026?+
For most enrollees in 2026: Medicare Part A premium is $0 (most people qualify for premium-free Part A through 40+ quarters of Medicare-taxed work). Part B standard premium is $185/month (income-adjusted higher via IRMAA). Medicare Advantage plans frequently charge $0 in additional premium beyond Part B. Standalone Part D plans average $40-$60/month. Medigap Plan G runs $110-$200/month for a 65-year-old non-smoker, varying by state and ZIP code. So a typical Medigap-path enrollee pays roughly $335-$445/month total ($185 + $50 + $140), while a typical Medicare Advantage enrollee pays roughly $185-$215/month total.
What is the Medicare Part B deductible for 2026?+
The Medicare Part B deductible for 2026 is $257. This is what you pay out-of-pocket before Part B starts paying its share (80%) of approved services. Medigap Plan F covers this deductible; Plan G does not. Medicare Advantage plans usually replace this with their own plan-specific deductible structure.
What is the Medicare Part A deductible for 2026?+
The Medicare Part A hospital deductible for 2026 is $1,676 per benefit period (a benefit period starts when you're admitted and ends after 60 consecutive days out of inpatient care). Most Medigap plans (A, B, C, D, F, G, M, N) cover this in full; Medicare Advantage plans replace it with their own per-stay copays.
What are the IRMAA brackets for 2026?+
IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount) is the surcharge added to Part B and Part D premiums for higher-income enrollees. 2026 IRMAA is based on 2024 income tax returns. For singles, surcharges begin at MAGI above $106,000; for couples filing jointly, above $212,000. There are 5 income tiers — at the highest tier (>$500K single / >$750K joint), the total Part B premium is around $629/month. Most enrollees pay no IRMAA.
Does Medicare Part D have an out-of-pocket cap in 2026?+
Yes — this is new starting in 2025 and continuing in 2026. Medicare Part D enrollees now have a $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap on prescription drug costs (set by the Inflation Reduction Act). After you spend $2,000 out-of-pocket on covered Part D drugs in a calendar year, you pay $0 for the rest of the year. This is a huge change from prior years where there was no cap. Medicare Advantage plans with bundled Part D (MA-PD) also include this cap.
How much does Medigap Plan G cost in 2026?+
Medigap Plan G premiums for 2026 typically range from $110 to $200 per month for a 65-year-old non-smoker, depending on state, ZIP code, gender, and underwriting class. High-cost states (NY, MA, CT — guaranteed-issue states) tend to see Plan G in the $180-$240 range. Lower-cost states often see Plan G $90-$140. Same-letter Medigap plans are federally standardized — Plan G from any carrier covers identical benefits, so price varies based purely on carrier and risk pool.
What is the Medicare Advantage out-of-pocket maximum in 2026?+
CMS sets the maximum Medicare Advantage out-of-pocket limits annually. For 2026: in-network MOOP cannot exceed $9,350 (most plans set theirs at $3,000-$8,850); combined in-network + out-of-network MOOP for PPO plans cannot exceed $14,000. After you hit your plan's MOOP, the plan pays 100% of in-network covered services for the rest of the year.
How much is Medicare Part B in 2026?+
The standard Medicare Part B monthly premium for 2026 is $185 (up from $174.70 in 2025). Higher-income enrollees pay more via IRMAA — anywhere from $259 to $629 per month at the top tiers. Most enrollees pay the standard $185.

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