The 2026 Medicare Numbers, Verified
Medicare costs change every year, and most of what you'll read online is last year's numbers. These are the 2026 figures, each verified against CMS.gov.
What does Part B cost in 2026?
The standard Part B premium is $202.90 per month, and the annual Part B deductible is $283 (source: CMS.gov). Higher-income households pay more via IRMAA — generally starting above $109,000 MAGI for individual filers (source: SSA.gov).
What does a hospital stay cost with Part A?
The 2026 Part A inpatient deductible is $1,736 per benefit period (source: CMS.gov) — and 'per benefit period' means you can owe it more than once in a year. This single number is the core of the Medigap-vs-Advantage conversation.
How does the $2,100 drug cap work?
In 2026, once your out-of-pocket spending on covered Part D drugs reaches $2,100, you pay nothing for covered prescriptions the rest of the year (source: CMS.gov). For anyone on expensive brand-name medications, this cap changes which plan design wins — the math is different than it was even two years ago.
What determines what YOU actually pay?
Your county, your doctors, your pharmacy, and your drug list. In Hillsborough County there are 133 MA and Part D plan options for 2026 (source: CMS CY2026 Landscape) — the spread between the best and worst plan for the same person is routinely thousands of dollars a year. The published numbers above are the floor; plan selection is the variable.
Frequently asked questions
Do these numbers change every year?
Yes — CMS publishes new premiums, deductibles and caps each fall for the following year. This page is reviewed against CMS.gov when figures are released.
Does everyone pay $202.90 for Part B?
No. Most people pay the standard amount, higher-income households pay IRMAA surcharges on top, and some lower-income beneficiaries qualify for programs that pay part or all of the premium.
Is a $0-premium Advantage plan really $0?
A $0 premium means no monthly plan premium — you still pay your Part B premium, plus the plan's copays and cost-sharing when you use care. $0 premium is never 'free coverage.'
Questions about your own situation?
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