Part B: medical insurance
| Part B | 2026 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard monthly premium | $202.90 | $185 | + $17.90 |
| Annual deductible | $283 | $257 | + $26 |
| Standard premium for the year | $2,434.80 | $2,220 | + $214.80 |
CMS also lists a separate Part B premium of $121.60 for coverage limited to immunosuppressive drugs.
The income-related surcharge
Beneficiaries with higher modified adjusted gross income pay an income-related monthly adjustment amount on top of the standard premium. The CMS table for 2026:
| Individual return, MAGI | Joint return, MAGI | Monthly adjustment | Total Part B premium | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| up to $109,000 | up to $218,000 | $0 | $202.90 | $2,434.80 |
| $109,001 to $137,000 | $218,001 to $274,000 | $81.20 | $284.10 | $3,409.20 |
| $137,001 to $171,000 | $274,001 to $342,000 | $202.90 | $405.80 | $4,869.60 |
| $171,001 to $205,000 | $342,001 to $410,000 | $324.60 | $527.50 | $6,330 |
| $205,001 to under $500,000 | $410,001 to under $750,000 | $446.30 | $649.20 | $7,790.40 |
| $500,000 and above | $750,000 and above | $487 | $689.90 | $8,278.80 |
Married people filing separately have their own schedule: no adjustment up to $109,000, $446.30 from there to under $391,000, and $487 at $391,000 and above. The brackets are cliffs: one dollar of income over a line costs the whole tier's surcharge for the year, $974.40 at the first step. Because the test runs on modified adjusted gross income, required minimum distributions, capital gains and the taxable share of benefits in how Social Security benefits are taxed all count toward the tiers.
Part A: hospital insurance
| Part A, 2026 | Amount | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Inpatient hospital deductible, per benefit period | $1,736 | $1,676 |
| Daily coinsurance, days 61 to 90 | $434 | $419 |
| Daily coinsurance, lifetime reserve days | $868 | $838 |
| Skilled nursing facility coinsurance, days 21 to 100 | $217 | $209.50 |
| Monthly premium, 30 to 39 quarters of coverage | $311 | $285 |
| Monthly premium, fewer than 30 quarters | $565 | $518 |
CMS notes that about 99 percent of beneficiaries pay no Part A premium because they have at least 40 quarters of Medicare-covered employment. The deductible applies per benefit period rather than per year, so two separate hospital stays in a year can mean two deductibles.
What a year costs
| Scenario, 2026 | Part B premiums | Deductibles used | Total before coinsurance, Part D and supplements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard rate, no hospital stay | $2,434.80 | $283 | $2,717.80 |
| Standard rate, one hospital stay | $2,434.80 | $2,019 | $4,453.80 |
| First surcharge tier, one hospital stay | $3,409.20 | $2,019 | $5,428.20 |
Part D drug coverage, Medicare Advantage or Medigap premiums and Part B coinsurance sit on top of these figures and vary by plan. The retirement savings calculator is where a premium of $202.90 a month per person belongs as a fixed cost, and the budget planner where it meets the rest of a retirement budget; Social Security full retirement age covers the benefit it is usually deducted from.
This guide reproduces the figures in the CMS fact sheet of November 14, 2025. Part D and Medicare Advantage costs are set per plan.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Medicare Part B premium for 2026?
$202.90 a month, up $17.90 from $185.00 in 2025, per the CMS fact sheet of November 14, 2025. The Part B annual deductible is $283, up $26 from $257. Higher-income beneficiaries pay an income-related monthly adjustment on top, from $81.20 to $487.00, based on modified adjusted gross income.
How much is the Medicare Part A deductible in 2026?
$1,736 per benefit period for an inpatient hospital stay, up $60 from $1,676. After 60 days the daily coinsurance is $434 for days 61 to 90 and $868 for each lifetime reserve day; skilled nursing facility care costs $217 a day for days 21 to 100. Most people pay no Part A premium; those with 30 to 39 quarters of covered work pay $311 a month and those with fewer than 30 pay $565.
What are the 2026 IRMAA income brackets?
The Part B surcharge starts above $109,000 of modified adjusted gross income for an individual return and $218,000 for a joint return, adding $81.20 a month; the next tiers start at $137,000 and $274,000 ($202.90 extra), $171,000 and $342,000 ($324.60), $205,000 and $410,000 ($446.30), and $500,000 and $750,000 ($487.00), for total premiums of $284.10 up to $689.90. Married filing separately has its own two-tier schedule.
Who pays for Part A?
CMS says about 99 percent of beneficiaries have no Part A premium because they or a spouse have at least 40 quarters of Medicare-covered employment. With 30 to 39 quarters the 2026 premium is $311 a month; with fewer than 30 it is $565.
What does Medicare cost per year in 2026?
For a person at the standard rate with one hospital stay: $2,434.80 of Part B premiums, the $283 Part B deductible and the $1,736 Part A deductible, about $4,454 before coinsurance, Part D, supplemental coverage and any income-related surcharge. A couple in the third IRMAA tier pays $405.80 each a month for Part B alone, $9,739 a year.
Sources
General information based on the sources above, not medical advice.