Daily Financial Intel

Most Medicare Costs Are Increasing in 2026

Written by The Retirement Group | Jul 29, 2024 7:00:00 AM

Premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts for Original Medicare generally change every year. Here's a look at some of the costs that will apply in 2026.

Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) costs for 2026

  • Premium for those who need to buy coverage: As much as $565 per month for those with fewer than 30 quarters of coverage, or $311 per month for those with 30–39 quarters (up from $518 and $285 in 2025); however, most people don't pay a premium for Medicare Part A
  • Deductible for inpatient hospitalization: $1,736 per benefit period (up from $1,676 in 2025)
  • Inpatient hospital coinsurance: $434 per day for days 61 through 90, and $868 per "lifetime reserve day" after day 90, up to a 60-day lifetime maximum (up from $419 and $838 in 2025)
  • Skilled nursing facility coinsurance: $217 per day for days 21 through 100 for each benefit period (up from $209.50 in 2025)

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) costs for 2026

Monthly standard premium: Most people with Medicare who receive Social Security benefits will pay the standard monthly Part B premium of $202.90 in 2026, $17.90 higher than in 2025. This premium increase is mainly due to higher projected health-care spending.1

Premium for those with higher incomes: If your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) as reported on your federal income tax return from two years ago (2024) is above a certain amount, you'll pay the standard premium amount and an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA), which is an extra charge added to your premium, as shown in the following chart.

Single Filer MAGI (2024) Married Filing Jointly MAGI (2024) Married Filing Separately MAGI (2024) Monthly Part B Premium (2026)
$109,000 or less $218,000 or less $109,000 or less $202.90
$109,001 – $137,000 $218,001 – $274,000 $109,001 – $390,999 $284.10
$137,001 – $171,000 $274,001 – $342,000 $405.80
$171,001 – $205,000 $342,001 – $410,000 $527.50
$205,001 – $499,999 $410,001 – $749,999 $649.20
$500,000 or more $750,000 or more $391,000 or more $689.90

*This premium applies to a benefit that extends coverage for immunosuppressive drugs for people whose full Medicare coverage ended 36 months after a kidney transplant and who do not have certain other types of health insurance.

People with higher incomes may also pay a higher premium for a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, because an IRMAA will be added to the Part D basic premium based on the same income limits in the table above. Part D premiums vary by plan.

Annual deductible: People with Medicare Part B must also satisfy an annual deductible before Original Medicare starts to pay. For 2026, this deductible is $283 (up from $257 in 2025).