Medicare Part B Premium 2026: What You'll Pay

The Medicare Part B premium 2026 is $202.90 a month, up $17.90 from the 2025 standard premium of $185.00, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the federal agency that administers Medicare and sets premiums and deductibles each year. The Part B annual deductible also rose in 2026, climbing to $283 from $257, a $26 increase. Most beneficiaries have the premium deducted automatically from their Social Security check, so the higher amount first appeared in the January 2026 payment.

Beneficiaries with higher incomes pay more through the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, known as IRMAA, a surcharge CMS adds to the standard Part B premium based on income reported on a tax return filed two years earlier. That means your 2024 tax return determines whether you owe IRMAA on your 2026 premium. Combined with IRMAA, the total Part B premium can reach $689.90 a month for beneficiaries in the highest income tier.

Why the Part B Premium Rose in 2026

Part B premiums are set each year to cover roughly 25% of projected program costs for outpatient care, physician services, and durable medical equipment, with general federal revenue covering the remaining 75%. According to CMS, the agency recalculates the premium annually based on projected spending, and the 2026 increase reflects rising health care costs across the program. The change applies broadly: nearly everyone enrolled in Part B pays the new standard amount unless they qualify for a Medicare Savings Program or fall into a higher IRMAA bracket.

Part B Deductible and Coinsurance in 2026

Before Medicare pays its share of covered outpatient services, you're responsible for the annual Part B deductible of $283 in 2026. Once you've met it, you typically pay 20% coinsurance for most Part B-covered services, and Medicare pays the remaining 80%. For a full rundown of what's covered, see our Medicare Part B coverage guide. Standard cost details are also available on Medicare.gov's costs page.

Original Medicare has no annual out-of-pocket maximum, which differs from the built-in cap on Medicare Advantage out-of-pocket costs. That's one reason many beneficiaries pair Part B with a Medigap policy or a Part D drug plan to manage costs.