Medicare costs in 2026 increased across nearly every category. The standard Part B premium rose to $202.90 per month, the Part A hospital deductible climbed to $1,736, and IRMAA surcharges hit higher-income beneficiaries at steeper rates. If you are new to Medicare, approaching age 65, or wondering whether you qualify for help paying these costs, this page covers every number you need for 2026.
Quick Answer: The 2026 standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90 per month. The Part A inpatient hospital deductible is $1,736 per benefit period. IRMAA surcharges kick in for individuals earning more than $109,000 in 2024 MAGI and can push Part B costs as high as $689.90 per month. Most people pay $0 for Part A if they worked 40 or more quarters. As of 2026, Medicare Savings Programs can eliminate or reduce these costs for lower-income beneficiaries.
Part B Premium and Deductible for 2026
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) set the 2026 standard monthly Part B premium at $202.90, according to the 2026 Medicare Parts A and B fact sheet on cms.gov. That is $17.90 more than the 2025 premium of $185.00.
The annual Part B deductible for 2026 is $283, up $26 from $257 in 2025.
After you meet the $283 deductible, Medicare Part B covers 80% of approved outpatient services. You are responsible for the remaining 20% coinsurance with no out-of-pocket cap unless you have a Medigap supplement plan.
2026 Medicare Part B at a glance:
| Cost Type | 2025 Amount | 2026 Amount |
|---|
| Standard monthly premium | $185.00 | $202.90 |
| Annual deductible | $257 | $283 |
| Coinsurance after deductible | 20% | 20% |
Part A Premiums and Deductibles for 2026
Most people pay $0 for Medicare Part A because they (or a spouse) worked 40 or more quarters with Medicare-covered employment. If you have fewer than 40 quarters, you pay a monthly premium.
2026 Part A premium by quarters worked:
| Quarters of Coverage | 2025 Monthly Premium | 2026 Monthly Premium |
|---|
| 40 or more | $0 | $0 |
| 30 to 39 | $285 | $311 |
| Fewer than 30 | $518 | $565 |
The 2026 Part A inpatient hospital deductible is $1,736 per benefit period. This is not an annual deductible. A benefit period begins the day you are admitted as an inpatient and ends once you have been out of a hospital or skilled nursing facility for 60 consecutive days. You could pay this deductible more than once in the same calendar year if you have multiple hospital stays separated by 60 days.
2026 Part A hospital coinsurance by day:
| Hospital Days (per benefit period) | 2025 Daily Cost | 2026 Daily Cost |
|---|
| Days 1 to 60 | $0 after $1,676 deductible | $0 after $1,736 deductible |
| Days 61 to 90 | $419/day | $434/day |
| Days 91 and beyond (lifetime reserve) | $838/day | $868/day |
| Beyond 90 days (no reserve days left) | All costs | All costs |
Skilled nursing facility coinsurance for 2026:
| SNF Days (per benefit period) | 2026 Daily Cost |
|---|
| Days 1 to 20 | $0 |
| Days 21 to 100 | $217/day |
| Day 101 and beyond | All costs |
Source: Federal Register CY 2026 Inpatient Hospital Deductible and Coinsurance Notice.
2026 IRMAA Brackets: Part B Surcharges by Income
IRMAA stands for Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. It is the additional premium that higher-income beneficiaries pay on top of the standard Part B and Part D premiums. Your 2026 IRMAA is calculated using your 2024 Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) from your federal tax return.
IRMAA applies if your 2024 MAGI exceeded $109,000 for individuals or $218,000 for married couples filing jointly.
2026 Part B monthly premiums including IRMAA by income:
| 2024 MAGI (Individual) | 2024 MAGI (Married Filing Jointly) | 2026 Monthly Part B Premium |
|---|
| $109,000 or less | $218,000 or less | $202.90 (standard) |
| $109,001 to $137,000 | $218,001 to $274,000 | $284.10 |
| $137,001 to $171,000 | $274,001 to $342,000 | $405.80 |
| $171,001 to $205,000 | $342,001 to $410,000 | $527.50 |
| $205,001 to $499,999 | $410,001 to $749,999 | $649.20 |
| $500,000 or more | $750,000 or more | $689.90 |
These figures are confirmed by Kiplinger's 2026 Medicare premium analysis and CMS published data.
Note for married filing separately: If you file taxes as married filing separately, the IRMAA threshold is just $109,000, the same as for individuals. This applies regardless of your combined household income.
2026 IRMAA Brackets: Part D Surcharges
If you have a Medicare Part D drug plan, IRMAA adds a monthly surcharge on top of your plan's premium. The 2026 Part D IRMAA surcharges are:
| 2024 MAGI (Individual) | 2024 MAGI (Married Filing Jointly) | 2026 Monthly Part D IRMAA Surcharge |
|---|
| $109,000 or less | $218,000 or less | $0 |
| $109,001 to $137,000 | $218,001 to $274,000 | $14.50 |
| $137,001 to $171,000 | $274,001 to $342,000 | $37.60 |
| $171,001 to $205,000 | $342,001 to $410,000 | $60.60 |
| $205,001 to $499,999 | $410,001 to $749,999 | $83.70 |
| $500,000 or more | $750,000 or more | $91.00 |
Part D surcharges are paid directly to Medicare, not to your drug plan. They appear as a separate charge on your Social Security benefit statement or as a bill if you are not receiving Social Security benefits.
Medicare Part D Standard Deductible for 2026
The standard Part D deductible for 2026 is $615. Plans can charge less, but they cannot charge more. Some plans have $0 deductibles, which means you start paying copays or coinsurance immediately rather than first meeting a deductible. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 capped out-of-pocket drug costs for Medicare Part D beneficiaries at $2,000 in 2025, with the cap rising to $2,100 in 2026 under CMS's required annual adjustment.
Medicare Advantage (Part C) Costs for 2026
Medicare Advantage plans set their own premiums, deductibles, and copayments within CMS guidelines. Many plans offer $0 monthly premiums, but you still pay the Part B premium of $202.90. Out-of-pocket maximum limits for in-network services are set by CMS and vary by plan. The average Medicare Advantage premium in 2026 is approximately $17 per month above the Part B base premium, though individual plans vary widely.
Who Pays $0 for Medicare: Low-Income Help Programs
If your income and assets fall below certain thresholds, you may qualify to have Medicare costs reduced or eliminated entirely. These are called Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) and Extra Help (Low Income Subsidy for Part D).
Medicare Savings Programs 2026 general income guidelines (approximate, vary by state):
| Program | Who It Helps | What It Covers |
|---|
| Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) | Income up to roughly 100% FPL | Part A and B premiums, deductibles, coinsurance |
| Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) | Income 100% to 120% FPL | Part B premium only |
| Qualifying Individual (QI) | Income 120% to 135% FPL | Part B premium only |
| Qualified Disabled Working Individual (QDWI) | Income up to 200% FPL, disabled | Part A premium only |
The 2026 federal poverty level for a household of one is $15,960 per year (lower 48 states), per poverty guidelines published by aspe.hhs.gov. Income limits for MSPs are calculated as a percentage of that figure. Exact dollar thresholds depend on your state.
Extra Help (Low Income Subsidy) for Part D 2026: Individuals with income below roughly 150% FPL (about $23,940 for a single person) may qualify for Extra Help, which eliminates or dramatically reduces Part D premiums and copays. Visit medicare.gov to apply or see if you qualify.
How to Appeal an IRMAA Surcharge
If your income has dropped significantly since 2024, you can request an IRMAA reduction. Life-changing events that qualify include:
- Marriage, divorce, or death of a spouse
- Work stoppage or reduction
- Loss of income-producing property
- Employer settlement payments
To appeal, file Form SSA-44 with the Social Security Administration. You will need documentation showing the life-changing event and your estimated current-year income. SSA will recalculate your IRMAA based on the more recent income figure.
How to Apply for Medicare and Medicare Savings Programs
Enrollment windows for 2026
- Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): 7-month window around your 65th birthday (3 months before, the month of, and 3 months after).
- General Enrollment Period (GEP): January 1 to March 31 each year, for people who missed their IEP. Coverage starts July 1.
- Special Enrollment Period (SEP): Available if you delayed enrollment because you had employer coverage. You have 8 months after employer coverage ends to enroll without penalty.
- Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15 to December 7 each year to change Medicare Advantage or Part D plans.
Application steps
- Visit ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213 to enroll in Medicare Parts A and B. Most people can complete this online in about 10 minutes.
- After your Medicare card arrives, compare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans at medicare.gov/plan-compare using your zip code and list of medications.
- Apply for Medicare Savings Programs through your state Medicaid office. Applications can often be submitted online, by mail, or in person.
- Apply for Extra Help through SSA or through your state Medicaid office at the same time you apply for MSP.
Documents you will need
- Social Security card or Medicare card
- Proof of age (birth certificate or passport)
- Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful residency
- Recent tax return (for IRMAA appeals) or income documentation for MSP
- Employer or union group health plan information (if delaying enrollment)
- Bank statements or asset records (for MSP and Extra Help)
Common reasons applications get delayed or denied
- Missing the Initial Enrollment Period without a valid Special Enrollment Period
- Failing to enroll in Part B when first eligible, resulting in a permanent late enrollment penalty (10% per 12-month period of delay)
- Income documentation errors on MSP applications
- Not updating SSA about a life-changing event that would reduce IRMAA
- Enrolling in a plan outside your service area
What the 2026 Cost Increases Mean for Beneficiaries
The Part B premium increase of $17.90 per month adds $214.80 per year for each beneficiary. Social Security's 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) was 2.5%, which added roughly $50 to $100 per month for most recipients. For many beneficiaries, the Part B premium increase absorbed a significant portion of that COLA.
If your 2026 Social Security benefit increased by less than the Part B premium increase, the "hold harmless" provision protects you from having your net Social Security payment decrease due to Part B premium increases. However, the hold harmless rule does not apply to IRMAA surcharges.
Check your eligibility for Medicare Savings Programs at CoveredUSA, it takes 2 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Medicare Part B premium for 2026?
The standard Medicare Part B premium for 2026 is $202.90 per month, up from $185.00 in 2025. If your 2024 MAGI exceeded $109,000 (individual) or $218,000 (married filing jointly), you pay an IRMAA surcharge that can raise your monthly Part B cost to as much as $689.90.
What is the Medicare Part A deductible for 2026?
The 2026 Medicare Part A inpatient hospital deductible is $1,736 per benefit period. This is not an annual deductible. You pay it each time you begin a new benefit period, which means you could pay it more than once in a calendar year.
What are the 2026 IRMAA thresholds?
For 2026, IRMAA surcharges begin when your 2024 MAGI exceeded $109,000 for individual filers and $218,000 for couples filing jointly. There are five IRMAA tiers, with the highest tier applying to incomes of $500,000 or more (individual) or $750,000 or more (joint), resulting in a $689.90 monthly Part B premium.
Does Medicare Part A cost anything in 2026?
Most people pay $0 for Part A because they worked 40 or more quarters (10 years) in jobs that paid Medicare taxes. If you worked 30 to 39 quarters, you pay $311 per month in 2026. Fewer than 30 quarters means a $565 per month premium. You can also get premium-free Part A through a spouse's work history.
What is the Part D deductible in 2026?
The maximum standard Part D deductible for 2026 is $615. Plans can set their deductible lower, including $0, but cannot exceed this limit. The 2026 out-of-pocket cap for Part D is $2,100 per year, up from $2,000 in 2025 under the Inflation Reduction Act's required annual adjustment.
How do I know if I qualify for help paying Medicare costs?
Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help (Low Income Subsidy) can eliminate or reduce Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles, and Part D costs. General eligibility starts around 100% to 150% of the federal poverty level, though income and asset rules vary by state. The fastest way to check is to use the free eligibility screener at coveredusa.org/screener. It takes about 2 minutes and covers Medicare, Medicaid, and ACA coverage options.
Can I appeal my IRMAA if my income dropped?
Yes. If you experienced a life-changing event that reduced your income since 2024 (such as retirement, job loss, divorce, or death of a spouse), you can file Form SSA-44 with Social Security to request a lower IRMAA tier based on your current income instead of your 2024 tax return. Contact SSA at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local SSA office.
When does my 2026 Medicare coverage start if I enroll now?
If you are in your Initial Enrollment Period, coverage can start as early as the first day of your birthday month (or the month prior if your birthday falls on the first). If you enroll during the General Enrollment Period (January through March), coverage starts July 1. During a Special Enrollment Period after losing employer coverage, coverage typically starts the month after you enroll.
Sources: CMS 2026 Medicare Parts A and B Fact Sheet, Federal Register CY 2026 Hospital Deductible Notice, Kiplinger 2026 Medicare IRMAA Analysis, ASPE Federal Poverty Guidelines.
