How much does Medicare cost per month?
- Most beneficiaries pay $0 for Part A and $202.90 a month for Part B in 2026
- Adding a Part D drug plan, which averages about $34.50 a month, brings the typical monthly cost to roughly $237
- Many choose a Medigap policy or a Medicare Advantage plan, which can change total costs; beneficiaries generally must still pay the Part B premium, and any added plan premium or cost sharing varies by plan
- Higher-income beneficiaries pay an income-related surcharge on Parts B and D, raising their monthly cost
| Medicare part (2026) |
Typical monthly premium |
| Part A (hospital) |
$0 for most |
| Part B (medical) |
$202.90 |
| Part D (drugs) |
About $34.50, varies by plan |
| Typical combined total |
About $237 |
These are Original Medicare figures; actual costs depend on income, supplemental coverage and the drug plan chosen. Coverage details appear in our Medicare senior care research.
Most beneficiaries pay $0 for Part A and $202.90 for Part B, and adding an average Part D plan brings the typical monthly Medicare cost to about $237.
How much is Medicare Part B?
- The standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month in 2026, up from $185.00 in 2025
- The annual Part B deductible is $283, after which Medicare typically pays 80% and the beneficiary pays 20%
- Higher earners pay a surcharge that can push the premium as high as $689.90 a month at the top income tier
- For beneficiaries getting Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits, Part B is usually deducted automatically from the benefit payment
Part B covers doctor visits, outpatient care and durable medical equipment. It is the premium nearly every beneficiary pays, since most receive Part A for free.
The standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90 per month in 2026, with a $283 annual deductible and typical 20% coinsurance after the deductible.
How much is Medicare Part D?
- Part D premiums vary by plan, averaging about $34.50 a month in 2026, with a national base premium of $38.99
- The maximum Part D deductible is $615 in 2026, though many plans set a lower deductible or none
- The 2026 annual out-of-pocket cap limits beneficiary out-of-pocket spending on covered Part D drugs to $2,100, up from $2,000 when the cap began in 2025
- Once a beneficiary hits that cap, they pay $0 for covered drugs for the rest of the year
The out-of-pocket cap, created by recent reforms, effectively replaced the old coverage gap known as the donut hole. Higher earners also pay a Part D income surcharge on top of the plan premium.
Medicare Part D premiums average about $34.50 per month, and covered drug costs are capped at $2,100 out of pocket in 2026.
How much is Medicare Part A?
- About 99% of beneficiaries pay $0 for Part A, having worked at least 40 quarters (10 years) in Medicare-covered jobs
- Those with 30 to 39 quarters pay a reduced premium of $311 a month in 2026
- Those with fewer than 30 quarters pay the full premium of $565 a month
- Even with free Part A, a hospital stay carries a $1,736 deductible per benefit period plus coinsurance for long stays
| Work history |
2026 Part A monthly premium |
| 40 or more quarters |
$0 |
| 30 to 39 quarters |
$311 |
| Fewer than 30 quarters |
$565 |
Eligibility for free Part A can also come through a current, former or deceased spouse’s work record. Part A covers hospital, skilled nursing, hospice and some home health care.
How much is the Medicare deductible?
- The Part A hospital deductible is $1,736 per benefit period in 2026, up $60 from 2025, and it can apply more than once a year
- The Part B annual deductible is $283, up $26 from 2025
- The Part D deductible is capped at $615, though plans may charge less
- Unlike most insurance, the Part A deductible resets with each new benefit period, not once a year
| Deductible (2026) |
Amount |
Applies |
| Part A hospital |
$1,736 |
Per benefit period |
| Part B medical |
$283 |
Once a year |
| Part D drugs |
Up to $615 |
Once a year |
The benefit-period structure means multiple hospital stays in one year can trigger the Part A deductible more than once. Medigap policies often cover these gaps.
Medicare deductibles vary by part, with Part A charging $1,736 per benefit period while Part B and Part D deductibles apply annually.
How much are Medicare premiums increasing in 2026?
- The standard Part B premium rose $17.90 to $202.90 a month, an increase of nearly 10%
- The Part B deductible climbed $26 to $283, and the Part A deductible rose $60 to $1,736
- The reduced and full Part A premiums increased to $311 and $565, up from $285 and $518 in 2025
- The Part D out-of-pocket cap rose from $2,000 to $2,100
| Cost |
2025 |
2026 |
| Part B premium |
$185.00 |
$202.90 |
| Part B deductible |
$257 |
$283 |
| Part A deductible |
$1,676 |
$1,736 |
| Part D out-of-pocket cap |
$2,000 |
$2,100 |
The Part B increase reflects projected price and utilization growth. For many beneficiaries, the Social Security cost-of-living raise offset part of the higher premium.
How much does Medicare cost at age 65?
- At 65, most people start with free Part A and pay the standard $202.90 Part B premium in 2026
- Adding a Part D drug plan brings the starting cost to roughly $237 a month before any supplemental coverage
- Enrolling on time, during the seven-month window around the 65th birthday, avoids lifelong late-enrollment penalties
- The Part B late penalty adds 10% for each full year a person delays without other qualifying coverage
Costs at 65 mirror the standard figures above, since age alone does not change premiums. What can raise them is income, through surcharges, or late enrollment, through penalties.
This research is for informational purposes only and is not financial, insurance or medical advice. Medicare premiums, deductibles and surcharge thresholds change annually and vary by income and plan. Confirm current figures at Medicare.gov or with a licensed advisor before enrolling.
Sources and additional resources
Source note: The 2026 Part A and Part B figures, the $202.90 standard premium, the $283 Part B deductible, the $1,736 Part A deductible, the $311 and $565 Part A premiums, the 99% who pay $0 and the $689.90 top income tier, come from the CMS 2026 Medicare Parts A and B premiums and deductibles fact sheet.
The Part D base premium of $38.99, the $615 maximum deductible and the $2,100 out-of-pocket cap, after which covered drugs cost $0, come from Medicare. The average standalone Part D premium of about $34.50 comes from the CMS 2026 Medicare Advantage and Part D announcement.
The roughly $237 typical monthly cost is the standard Part B premium plus the average Part D premium. The seven-month enrollment window, the 10% Part B late penalty and automatic Part B deduction come from Medicare. The Social Security cost-of-living offset reflects the 2.8% 2026 adjustment from the Social Security Administration.
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