How Much Is Medicare Part B?

🔑 10 Key Takeaways With Short Answers

Medicare Part B costs $202.90/month in 2026 — a 9.7% jump from 2025’s $185, automatically deducted from your Social Security check.

Part B is not free at age 65 — roughly 99% of beneficiaries pay $0 for Part A, but everyone enrolled in Part B pays the monthly premium regardless of age.

The Part B deductible rose to $283 — you pay this entire amount out of pocket each year before Medicare covers a single outpatient service.

High earners pay dramatically more through IRMAA — if your 2024 income exceeded $109,000 (single) or $218,000 (joint), your Part B premium can reach up to $689.90/month.

Part A is free for most people — but if you lack 40 quarters of work history, you could pay up to $565/month in 2026.

Medicare Advantage (Part C) premiums are dropping — the average monthly MA premium fell to $14 in 2026, down from $16.40 in 2025, with two-thirds of plans charging $0 beyond Part B.

Part D drug plan premiums are also decreasing — average standalone Part D premiums dropped to $34.50/month, with a new $2,100 annual out-of-pocket drug spending cap.

Your state dramatically affects Medicare Advantage costs — monthly MA premiums range from under $5 in Texas and Florida to over $42 in Wyoming and South Dakota.

Medigap premiums vary wildly by state and age — prices for the same standardized plan can range from $30/month to over $300/month depending on where you live.

The total annual cost of Medicare at age 65 ranges from roughly $2,400 to $8,300+ — depending on your income bracket, supplemental coverage choices, and how much healthcare you actually use.

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💵 The 2026 Part B Premium Hit $202.90 — Here’s Why It Jumped Nearly 10%

The nearly $18 monthly increase wasn’t random. The increase in the 2026 Part B standard premium and deductible is mainly due to projected price changes and assumed utilization increases that are consistent with historical experience. In plain English: healthcare costs keep climbing, and more beneficiaries are using more services.

Here’s a detail most articles miss: if the Trump Administration had not taken action to address unprecedented spending on skin substitutes, the Part B premium increase would have been about $11 more a month. However, due to changes finalized in the 2026 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule, spending on skin substitutes is expected to drop by 90% without affecting patient care. That means without that regulatory intervention, your Part B premium would have been roughly $214/month.

📊 Part B Cost Element	2025	2026	Change
💳 Standard monthly premium	$185.00	$202.90	⬆️ +$17.90 (+9.7%)
📋 Annual deductible	$257	$283	⬆️ +$26 (+10.1%)
🏥 Coinsurance after deductible	20%	20%	➡️ No change
📅 Annual Part B cost (premium + deductible)	$2,477	$2,717.80	⬆️ +$240.80

That final row is the number that matters most for budgeting. Even before you see a single doctor, Medicare Part B alone will cost the average beneficiary $2,717.80 in 2026 — and that’s before the 20% coinsurance kicks in on every service.

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🎂 Turning 65? Medicare Is Not Free — Here’s What Every Part Actually Costs

One of the most dangerous myths in retirement planning is believing Medicare is “free” once you turn 65. Here’s the complete cost picture across all four parts.

🏷️ Medicare Part	What It Covers	2026 Monthly Premium	2026 Annual Deductible
🏥 Part A (Hospital)	Inpatient hospital, skilled nursing, hospice	$0 for most (up to $565 if <30 quarters)	$1,736 per benefit period
🩺 Part B (Medical)	Doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services	$202.90 (standard)	$283/year
🔄 Part C (Medicare Advantage)	Combines A + B + usually D through private insurer	Avg. $14/month (on top of Part B)	Varies by plan
💊 Part D (Prescription Drugs)	Retail prescription medications	Avg. $34.50/month (standalone)	Up to $615/year

Enrollees age 65 and older who have fewer than 40 quarters of coverage pay a monthly premium to voluntarily enroll in Medicare Part A. Those with at least 30 quarters pay $311 in 2026, while those with fewer than 30 quarters pay $565 per month.

Here’s the insider math that catches new retirees off guard. If you choose Original Medicare (Parts A + B) plus a standalone Part D drug plan, your baseline annual premium cost in 2026 looks like this:

🧮 Coverage Combination	Monthly Cost	Annual Cost
Part A ($0) + Part B ($202.90) only	$202.90	$2,434.80
Part A + Part B + Part D ($34.50 avg.)	$237.40	$2,848.80
Part A + Part B + Part D + Medigap Plan G (~$150 avg.)	$387.40	$4,648.80
Part A + Part B + Medicare Advantage ($14 avg., includes D)	$216.90	$2,602.80

And none of these figures include actual healthcare usage — deductibles, coinsurance, copays, and prescription costs all stack on top.

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📈 The IRMAA Income Surcharge Could Triple Your Part B Premium

This is the single most financially devastating Medicare surprise for retirees who did well saving for retirement. The Medicare surcharge in 2026 applies to beneficiaries with income exceeding $109,000 for single filers or $218,000 for joint filers. For these beneficiaries, total monthly Part B premiums range from $284.10 to $689.90.

The kicker? IRMAA follows a “cliff” structure, meaning even $1 over an income threshold can trigger a significantly higher monthly premium.

💰 Single Filer Income (2024 MAGI)	👫 Joint Filer Income (2024 MAGI)	📋 2026 Monthly Part B Premium	💊 Part D IRMAA Surcharge
≤ $109,000	≤ $218,000	$202.90	$0
$109,001 – $137,000	$218,001 – $274,000	$284.10	+$14.50
$137,001 – $171,000	$274,001 – $342,000	$405.50	+$37.40
$171,001 – $205,000	$342,001 – $410,000	$527.00	+$60.30
$205,001 – $500,000	$410,001 – $750,000	$649.20	+$83.30
> $500,000	> $750,000	$689.90	+$91.00

The income on your 2024 federal tax return filed in 2025 determines the IRMAA you pay in 2026. This two-year lookback creates a painful trap for new retirees. If you retired in 2025 but earned a full salary in 2024, you could be paying the highest IRMAA bracket while living on a fraction of that income.

The escape hatch most people don’t know about: if you experienced a “life-changing event” — retirement, job loss, divorce, death of a spouse — you can appeal by filing Form SSA-44 with the Social Security Administration within 60 days of receiving your notice. This can potentially drop your premium back to the standard rate using your current, lower income instead.

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🗺️ Medicare Advantage Costs Vary Dramatically by State — Here’s the Real Map

While Part B premiums are identical nationwide, Medicare Advantage costs swing wildly depending on your zip code. In Wyoming, South Dakota, and Montana, average Medicare Advantage premium rates are $42 or more per month in 2026. In Texas, Rhode Island, Florida, and Nevada, the average premium is less than $5 per month.

🏆 Cheapest States for MA Premiums (2026)	💸 Most Expensive States for MA Premiums (2026)
🟢 Texas — under $5/month	🔴 Wyoming — $42+/month
🟢 Florida — under $5/month	🔴 South Dakota — $42+/month
🟢 Rhode Island — under $5/month	🔴 Montana — $42+/month
🟢 Nevada — under $5/month	🔴 North Dakota — high premiums + $400+ deductibles
🟢 Colorado — $0 HMO options	🔴 Vermont — high premiums + $400+ deductibles

Some of the factors that can influence a state’s average premium are the local cost of living, competition among insurance companies, supplemental benefits offered by the plan, and the quality of the plan’s coverage.

Here’s a regional breakdown showing how total Medicare costs stack up across the country:

🌎 Region	Avg. MA Monthly Premium	Part B Premium	Typical Total Monthly Cost	Key Insight
🌴 Southeast (FL, TX, GA)	$0–$5	$202.90	~$203–$208	Most competitive market; high insurer competition drives costs down
🏔️ Mountain West (WY, MT, SD)	$42–$55+	$202.90	~$245–$258+	Fewest plan choices; rural areas mean less competition
🌲 Northeast (NY, MA, CT)	$15–$40	$202.90	~$218–$243	Mix of high costs and high quality plans
🌾 Midwest (OH, IN, MN)	$10–$25	$202.90	~$213–$228	Moderate costs with decent selection
🌊 Pacific (CA, OR, WA)	$10–$30	$202.90	~$213–$233	Kaiser Permanente dominates in some markets with strong value

The critical takeaway: a beneficiary in Florida can access a $0-premium Medicare Advantage plan with dental, vision, and hearing benefits, while someone in Wyoming with identical health needs might pay $50+/month for fewer plan options. Where you live at age 65 has a profound impact on your Medicare costs — and for some retirees, this is a genuine reason to consider relocating.

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🏥 Part A Isn’t Free for Everyone — The Hidden Premium That Blindsides Some Seniors

Most articles gloss over Part A costs because 99% of beneficiaries pay $0. But if you’re in that remaining 1%, the bill is staggering.

📋 Work History	2026 Monthly Part A Premium	Annual Cost
✅ 40+ quarters (10+ years of Medicare taxes)	$0	$0
⚠️ 30–39 quarters (7.5–10 years)	$311	$3,732
❌ Fewer than 30 quarters	$565	$6,780

The Medicare Part A deductible for inpatient hospital services will increase by $60 in 2026 to $1,736. And unlike Part B’s annual deductible, the Part A daily coinsurance amounts will be $434 for days 61–90 of hospitalization in a benefit period, and $868 for lifetime reserve days.

This deductible resets with each “benefit period” — not annually. A benefit period starts when you’re admitted and ends 60 days after you stop receiving inpatient care. Get admitted to the hospital twice in a year with a 60+ day gap, and you could pay $1,736 twice.

🏥 Part A Cost Scenario (2026)	What You Pay
🟢 Hospital stay, days 1–60	$1,736 deductible (once per benefit period)
🟡 Hospital stay, days 61–90	$434/day coinsurance
🔴 Lifetime reserve days (60 total, ever)	$868/day coinsurance
🟠 Skilled nursing facility, days 21–100	$217/day coinsurance

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💊 Part D Drug Coverage Is Getting Cheaper — With a Major New Protection

In welcome contrast to Part B, prescription drug coverage is becoming more affordable in 2026. The average standalone Part D plan total premium is projected to decrease to $34.50 in 2026, down $3.81 from 2025.

The biggest game-changer: in 2026, annual out-of-pocket Part D costs will increase from $2,000 to $2,100. If you take high-cost medications, after meeting this out-of-pocket limit, you pay $0 for covered drugs for the rest of the year. This hard cap, established by the Inflation Reduction Act, is revolutionary for beneficiaries taking expensive specialty medications.

💊 Part D Cost Element	2025	2026
📋 Average standalone monthly premium	$38.31	$34.50 ⬇️
📋 Average MA-PD monthly premium	$13.32	$11.50 ⬇️
📋 Maximum annual deductible	$590	$615 ⬆️
🛡️ Annual out-of-pocket spending cap	$2,000	$2,100 ⬆️
💵 Cost after hitting OOP cap	$0	$0 ✅

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🔄 Medicare Advantage (Part C) Costs Are Falling — But Read the Fine Print

CMS estimates that the average monthly plan premium among all Medicare Advantage enrollees in 2026 will be $14 a month. That’s a decrease from $16.40 in 2025. Two-thirds of all Medicare Advantage plans with Part D prescription drug coverage will charge no premium other than the Part B premium in 2026.

But lower premiums don’t automatically mean lower total costs. The Medicare Advantage out-of-pocket maximum for 2026 will decrease by $100 to $9,250 for in-network services. That means in a worst-case medical year, you could spend up to $9,250 plus your Part B premium — totaling over $11,685.

📊 Medicare Advantage (Part C) Cost Element	2025	2026
💳 Average monthly MA premium	$16.40	$14.00 ⬇️
🔒 Maximum out-of-pocket limit (in-network)	$9,350	$9,250 ⬇️
📋 Plans with $0 premium (beyond Part B)	67%	67% ➡️
💊 Drug out-of-pocket cap	$2,000	$2,100 ⬆️
📈 Projected MA enrollment	~33 million	~34 million

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🛡️ Medigap Premiums Vary Massively by State — This Is Where Geography Really Hurts

Unlike Part B, which is federally standardized, Medigap premiums are set entirely by private insurers and vary enormously by state, age, and health status.

Depending on where you live and how old you are, you might see plans priced from as low as $30/month to as high as $300/month or more. Premiums can be considerably higher in most states if the applicant is under 65 and eligible for Medicare due to a disability.

🗺️ State Examples	Medigap Plan G Monthly Range (Age 65)	Key Factor
🟢 Ohio, Iowa, Nebraska	~$90–$140/month	Lower cost of living, competitive markets
🟡 Illinois, Pennsylvania, Virginia	~$120–$180/month	Moderate healthcare costs
🟠 New York, California, Massachusetts	~$150–$300+/month	High cost of living, more healthcare utilization
🔴 Florida (under 65 disability)	$250–$400+/month	Medical underwriting + high utilization market
🟣 Connecticut, Alaska	Very limited options	Few carriers compete = higher pricing

The critical timing advice: your Medigap Open Enrollment Period starts the month you turn 65 and are enrolled in Part B. During this six-month window, insurers cannot deny you coverage or charge more based on pre-existing conditions. Miss this window, and you may face medical underwriting that can double your premiums or result in denial.

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💡 5 Strategies to Slash Your Total Medicare Costs in 2026

🎯 Strategy	Who It Helps	Potential Annual Savings
📉 Manage MAGI to stay below IRMAA thresholds	Higher-income retirees	$974–$5,844/year per person
🔄 Compare MA plans annually during Open Enrollment	All beneficiaries	$200–$1,000+/year
💊 Apply for Extra Help/LIS for Part D	Income below 150% FPL	Up to $5,000+/year on drug costs
🏛️ Apply for Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, QI)	Low-income beneficiaries	Part B premium + deductibles covered by state
📋 File SSA-44 for IRMAA appeal after life changes	Recent retirees, widows/widowers	Hundreds to thousands per year

The Medicare Savings Programs deserve special attention. Older adults with incomes up to 150% of the federal poverty level qualify for the Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy, also called “Extra Help,” which lowers premiums and out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs. Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) programs can pay your Part B premium, deductibles, and coinsurance — potentially saving over $3,000 annually. Yet millions of eligible seniors never apply because they don’t know these programs exist.

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How much is Medicare Part B per month in 2026? The standard monthly premium is $202.90 for 2026, confirmed by CMS. This is automatically deducted from your Social Security benefit. Higher-income beneficiaries pay more through IRMAA surcharges, with premiums scaling up to $689.90/month for those earning over $500,000 individually.

Is Medicare Part B free at age 65? No. Part A is typically free at 65 if you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years (40 quarters). Part B always requires a monthly premium, currently $202.90, regardless of your age or work history. There is no age at which Part B becomes free — only income-based assistance programs like QMB can cover the premium for you.

How much does Medicare cost at age 65 in total? For a standard-income beneficiary choosing Original Medicare with a Part D drug plan, the minimum annual premium cost is approximately $2,849 (Part B + average Part D). Adding a Medigap Plan G averages around $4,649/year in premiums alone, before deductibles and coinsurance. Choosing Medicare Advantage instead can reduce this to around $2,603/year in premiums.

What is the Medicare Part B deductible for 2026? The annual Part B deductible is $283 in 2026. You must pay this full amount before Medicare covers 80% of outpatient services. After meeting the deductible, you pay 20% coinsurance on all Part B services with no annual out-of-pocket maximum under Original Medicare.

How much did the Part B premium increase for 2026? Part B rose $17.90 per month (9.7%) from $185 to $202.90. The deductible increased $26 (10.1%) from $257 to $283. Combined, the average beneficiary pays an additional $240.80 per year compared to 2025.

How much is Medicare Part A in 2026? Free for 99% of beneficiaries who have 40+ quarters of work history. For those with 30–39 quarters, the premium is $311/month. For those with fewer than 30 quarters, it’s $565/month. The inpatient hospital deductible is $1,736 per benefit period.

How much is Medicare Part C (Advantage) in 2026? The average monthly premium is $14, though two-thirds of plans charge $0 beyond the mandatory Part B premium. Costs vary dramatically by state — from under $5/month in Texas and Florida to $42+/month in Wyoming and Montana.

How much is Medicare Part D in 2026? Average standalone Part D premiums are $34.50/month, down from $38.31 in 2025. The maximum deductible is $615/year. The annual out-of-pocket drug spending cap is $2,100, after which you pay $0 for covered prescriptions.

Can I get help paying for Medicare Part B? Yes. Medicare Savings Programs — QMB, SLMB, and QI — can cover some or all of your Part B premium depending on your income and assets. Additionally, some Medicare Advantage plans offer “Part B giveback” benefits that reduce your monthly premium. Contact your state Medicaid office or call 1-800-MEDICARE to check eligibility.

Does the Part B premium vary by state? No. The standard Part B premium of $202.90 is federally set and identical in every state. However, Medicare Advantage premiums, Medigap premiums, and Part D premiums vary significantly by state and zip code. Your total Medicare cost depends heavily on where you live.

What income triggers higher Medicare premiums (IRMAA)? For 2026, IRMAA surcharges begin at $109,000 for single filers and $218,000 for joint filers, based on your 2024 tax return. The surcharge is a “cliff” — earning just $1 over the threshold triggers the higher premium for the entire year.

How do I appeal an IRMAA determination? File Form SSA-44 with the Social Security Administration within 60 days of receiving your IRMAA notice. Valid reasons include retirement, work stoppage, death of a spouse, divorce, or significantly reduced income. You can contact SSA at 800-772-1213.

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This article is for educational purposes and does not constitute financial or medical advice. Medicare premiums, deductibles, and IRMAA brackets are set annually by CMS and may change. Always verify your specific costs with Medicare (1-800-MEDICARE), the Social Security Administration, or a licensed insurance counselor through your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).