What You’ll Pay for Medicare Part B in 2026
Medicare Part B covers outpatient care, including doctor visits, preventive screenings, durable medical equipment, and outpatient procedures. For 2026, the standard monthly Part B premium is $202.90, and the annual Part B deductible is $283. Once you meet the deductible, Medicare generally pays 80% of the Medicare-approved amount for covered services, and you’re responsible for the remaining 20% coinsurance unless you have supplemental coverage.
What Part B Actually Covers
Part B helps pay for medically necessary services such as physician visits, lab work, outpatient mental health care, ambulance transport, and many preventive services like flu shots, annual wellness visits, and cancer screenings. It also covers durable medical equipment such as wheelchairs and walkers when prescribed by a doctor.
IRMAA: Higher Premiums for Higher Incomes
If your modified adjusted gross income from two years prior exceeds certain thresholds, you may pay an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) on top of the standard premium. IRMAA is determined by the Social Security Administration based on your tax return, and the surcharge amount increases in tiers as income rises. If your income has dropped since that tax year due to a life-changing event like retirement, you can request a reconsideration.
Help Paying Your Part B Premium
Several programs may help reduce or eliminate what you pay for Part B, depending on your income and resources:
- Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) — state-administered programs that can pay your Part B premium and, in some cases, deductibles and coinsurance.
- Extra Help — a federal program that helps with Part D prescription drug costs and may also connect you to an MSP.
Eligibility varies by state and is based on income and asset limits, so it’s worth checking even if you’re unsure you’d qualify.
Questions About Your Medicare Costs?
Understanding Part B premiums, deductibles, and IRMAA can be confusing. Price Services Group offers a free Medicare review with a licensed insurance agent to help you understand your options and whether you may qualify for savings programs. Schedule your free Medicare review today.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
Kayla Price, NPN 18530055, is a licensed insurance agent.