By the Kryder Cares Data Desk · Reviewed by Kris Kryder, licensed agent · Updated
Key points
- 2026 Part B: $202.90 a month standard premium and a $283 deductible.
- 2026 Part A: $1,736 deductible per benefit period; most people pay no premium.
- Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027.
- 2027 Part A and Part B amounts haven’t been announced; CMS usually publishes them in the fall.
What you pay for Part B in 2026
Part B covers doctor visits, outpatient care, lab work and medical equipment. For 2026 the standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month, and the yearly Part B deductible is $283. After the deductible, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for most services, with no yearly cap in Original Medicare.
Higher-income households pay more through IRMAA, an income-related surcharge — see our IRMAA guide. If your income is limited, a Medicare Savings Program may pay the premium for you.
What you pay for Part A in 2026
Part A covers inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care after a qualifying hospital stay, hospice and some home health care. Most people pay no monthly Part A premium because they or a spouse worked at least 40 quarters. Those with fewer quarters pay up to $565 a month in 2026.
Part A costs are counted per benefit period, which starts when you’re admitted as an inpatient. You pay the Part A deductible each time a new benefit period starts, and there’s no limit to the number of benefit periods you can have in a year.
| Cost | 2026 amount |
|---|---|
| Part B standard premium | $202.90 a month |
| Part B deductible | $283 a year |
| Part A premium (if not earned through work) | $311 a month (30–39 quarters) · $565 a month (under 30) |
| Part A hospital deductible | $1,736 per benefit period |
| Hospital days 61–90 | $434 a day |
| Lifetime reserve days | $868 a day |
| Skilled nursing facility days 21–100 | $217 a day |
Prescription drug costs: Part D
Original Medicare doesn’t cover most outpatient prescriptions, so most people add a stand-alone Part D plan or choose a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage. Each plan sets its own premium. For 2026 the Part D deductible can be no more than $615, and what you pay out of pocket for covered drugs is capped at $2,100 for the year.
CMS has already published the 2027 numbers: a maximum deductible of $700 and an out-of-pocket threshold of $2,400. Covered insulin costs no more than $35 a month per product, with no deductible. Our Part D guide goes further.
How Medigap and Medicare Advantage change the picture
Most people don’t stay with Original Medicare alone, because the 20% coinsurance has no cap. A Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy picks up some or all of those gaps for a monthly premium; what it pays depends on the plan letter you choose. High-deductible Plan G has a deductible of $2,950 in 2026 and $3,050 in 2027.
A Medicare Advantage plan replaces the way you get Parts A and B and has its own copays plus a yearly in-network out-of-pocket maximum. CMS sets a ceiling each year, and each plan picks its own limit at or below it. You still pay your Part B premium with either choice. Our comparison guide lays the trade-offs side by side.
What isn’t known yet for 2027
As of mid-October 2026, CMS hasn’t announced the 2027 Part B premium or deductible, the 2027 Part A deductible and coinsurance, or the 2027 IRMAA brackets. CMS usually releases them in the fall, and we’ll update this guide when it does. Treat any 2027 Part B figure you see before then as a projection.
What is set for 2027: the Part D limits above, the Part D base beneficiary premium of $41.33 (used to figure the late penalty), and the high-deductible Medigap amount.
Ways to lower what you pay
Compare plans every fall, because premiums and drug prices shift each year. Check whether you qualify for a Medicare Savings Program or Extra Help — see our guide to help with costs. And sign up on time to avoid penalties that last for life.
Kris can compare total yearly cost — premiums, deductibles and expected copays — across the plans she represents in your county. Send your list through the Rx drug lookup form or start at Medicare planning.
Your next step
Have questions about your own situation? Contact Kris or schedule a no-cost meeting. You can also read more about Medicare Supplement (Medigap), Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D.
Sources
- CMS — 2026 Medicare Parts A & B premiums and deductibles (fact sheet)
- CMS — Medicare costs
- CMS — Compare Original Medicare & Medicare Advantage
- CMS — Costs for Medicare drug coverage
- CMS — Calendar Year 2027 Rate Announcement (PDF)
- CMS — Medicare Part D 2027 national average monthly bid amount
- CMS — Insulin coverage
- CMS — CY 2027 Medigap high-deductible options F, J and G (PDF)
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 14 organizations which offer 119 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. This is a proprietary website and is not associated, endorsed or authorized by the Social Security Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services or the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This site contains decision-support content and information about Medicare, services related to Medicare and services for people with Medicare. If you would like to find more information about the Medicare program please visit the Official U.S. Government Site for People with Medicare located at www.medicare.gov.
This guide is general education, not a recommendation for any specific plan or policy. Figures were current as of October 19, 2026; plan details and government amounts change every year.