Costs
What’s a premium, deductible, coinsurance, or copayment?
Part A costs: | What you pay in 2026: |
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Premium Monthly | $0 for most people (because they or a spouse paid Medicare taxes long enough while working — generally at least 10 years). If you get Medicare earlier than age 65, you won’t pay a Part A premium . This is sometimes called “ premium-free Part A .” Do I qualify for premium-free Part A? If you don’t qualify for premium-free Part A: You might be able to buy it. You’ll pay either $311 or $565 each month for Part A, depending on how long you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes. Remember:
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Deductible Each benefit period | $1,736 for each inpatient hospital benefit period , before Original Medicare starts to pay. You pay the Part A deductible each time you start a new benefit period. There’s no limit to the number of benefit periods you can have in a year. This means you may pay the deductible more than once in a year. How do benefit periods work? |
Inpatient stay Daily
What's not covered? | During a benefit period, what you pay depends on how long you get care:
What will I pay if I get mental health services as an inpatient? |
Skilled nursing facility stay Daily | During a benefit period, what you pay depends on how long you get care:
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Home health care | $0 for covered home health care services. 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for durable medical equipment (like wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, and other equipment) |
Hospice care |
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Out-of-pocket limit Yearly | There’s no yearly limit on what you pay out-of-pocket, unless you have supplemental coverage, like a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy or join a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) . |
Part B costs: | What you pay in 2026: |
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Premium Monthly | $202.90 each month (or higher depending on your income). The amount can change each year. You’ll pay the premium each month, even if you don’t get any Part B-covered services. Who pays a higher Part B premium because of income? You might pay a monthly Part B late enrollment penalty if you don’t sign up for Part B when you’re first eligible for Medicare (usually when you turn 65). You’ll pay the penalty for as long as you have Part B. The penalty goes up the longer you wait to sign up. Find out how the Part B penalty works and how to avoid it. |
Deductible Yearly | $283 before Original Medicare starts to pay. You pay this deductible once each year. |
General costs for services (coinsurance) Per service | Usually 20% of the cost for each Medicare-covered service or item after you’ve paid your deductible (and as long as your doctor or health care provider accepts the Medicare-approved amount as full payment — called “accepting assignment ”). Find out how assignment affects what you pay. |
Clinical laboratory services | $0 for covered clinical laboratory services. |
Home health care |
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Inpatient hospital care Per service | 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for most doctor services while you’re a hospital inpatient. |
Outpatient mental health care |
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Partial hospitalization mental health care Per service | After you meet the Part B deductible:
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Outpatient hospital care Per service |
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Out-of-pocket limit Yearly | There’s no yearly limit on what you pay out-of-pocket, unless you have supplemental coverage, like a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy or join a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) . |
Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) costs
Medicare Advantage Plan costs: | What you pay in 2026: |
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Premiums & other costs (like deductibles, copayments & coinsurance) | Varies by plan. These amounts can change each year. Compare costs for specific health care plans.
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Out-of-pocket limit Yearly | Varies by plan. Once you pay the plan’s limit, the plan pays 100% of your covered health services for the rest of the calendar year. |
Where can I get more cost details from my plan?
Part D costs: | What you pay in 2026: |
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Premium Monthly | Varies by plan. You may have to pay more, depending on your income. Who pays a higher Part D premium because of income? 2 ways to avoid paying a Part D late enrollment penalty :
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Deductibles, copayments & coinsurance | Varies by plan and pharmacy. Find Medicare drug plans in your area, and compare their costs and coverage. |
Out-of-pocket limit Yearly | $2,100 (in 2026). Includes your deductible , out-of-pocket spending, and certain payments made on your behalf, like through the Extra Help program. |
Medigap costs: | What you pay in 2026: |
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Premium Monthly | Varies based on which Medigap policy you buy, where you live, and other factors. The amount can change each year. |
Other costs |
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What do you want to do next?
Get help with costs
Find out if you’re eligible for programs that can help lower your Medicare costs, like Extra Help.
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Learn about the parts of Medicare
Understand what each part covers and how they work together.