This guide is pending expert review.
Medicare Part B Premium 2026: Standard Rate, Deductible, and IRMAA Brackets
Not yet expert-reviewed · Last updated October 30, 2026
Medicare Part B Premium: What Most People Pay, and Who Pays More
Key takeaways
- For 2026, the standard Part B monthly premium is $202.90 (up $17.90 from $185.00 in 2025).[1][2][3]
- The 2026 Part B annual deductible is $283 (up $26 from $257 in 2025).[1][2]
- About 8% of Part B enrollees pay more because of IRMAA (income-related monthly adjustment amount), based mainly on tax-year income from two years earlier.[1][3]
- 2027 Part B premium and IRMAA amounts were not yet announced by CMS as of this review. Use Medicare.gov and the CMS newsroom when they post—do not rely on unofficial estimates.[1]
- Medicaid / Medicare Savings Programs may pay the Part B premium for people who qualify. Check with
and your state.[4]
- Free help: your SHIP counselor (not a sales agent).[5]
2026 numbers at a glance
| Item | 2026 amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Part B monthly premium | $202.90 | Most people pay this.[1][2] |
| Part B annual deductible | $283 | Once per calendar year before Original Medicare pays Part B coinsurance.[2] |
| Immunosuppressive-drug-only Part B premium | $121.60 | Separate election after kidney-transplant coverage ends (36 months).[1] |
CMS says the 2026 premium rise mainly reflects projected prices and use of Part B services. CMS also notes that Physician Fee Schedule changes expected to cut skin-substitute spending would have kept the increase from being about $11 higher per month.[1]
Who pays the standard premium?
Medicare.gov says you usually pay the standard amount if you:[2]
- Sign up for Part B for the first time in 2026, or
- Do not get Social Security benefits, or
- Are billed directly for Part B, or
- Have Medicare and Medicaid and your state pays the premium (state pays the $202.90 standard amount in 2026)
Social Security will tell you the exact amount deducted from your benefit check.[2][3]
IRMAA: when higher income means a higher Part B bill
If your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) on the IRS return from two years earlier is above set thresholds, you pay the standard premium plus an IRMAA surcharge.[1][3]
For 2026 premiums, SSA generally uses tax year 2024 (the return filed in 2025).[3]
2026 Part B total monthly premiums (full coverage)
Source: CMS 2026 Parts A & B fact sheet and Medicare.gov 2026 costs PDF. MAGI is from 2024 returns.[1][2]
| Individual MAGI (2024) | Joint MAGI (2024) | IRMAA | Total you pay / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| ≤ $109,000 | ≤ $218,000 | $0 | $202.90 |
| > $109,000 to ≤ $137,000 | > $218,000 to ≤ $274,000 | $81.20 | $284.10 |
| > $137,000 to ≤ $171,000 | > $274,000 to ≤ $342,000 | $202.90 | $405.80 |
| > $171,000 to ≤ $205,000 | > $342,000 to ≤ $410,000 | $324.60 | $527.50 |
| > $205,000 and < $500,000 | > $410,000 and < $750,000 | $446.30 | $649.20 |
| ≥ $500,000 | ≥ $750,000 | $487.00 | $689.90 |
Married filing separately (and lived with your spouse at any time during the year) uses a shorter table: standard through $109,000; then $649.20 (MAGI > $109,000 and < $391,000) or $689.90 (≥ $391,000).[1][2]
SSA explains that higher-income beneficiaries pay roughly 35%, 50%, 65%, 80%, or 85% of total Part B cost (instead of about 25% for people at the standard rate).[3]
Part D has a separate IRMAA add-on on top of your plan premium (same income brackets for 2026). See Medicare Part D.[1][2]
How your premium is decided (and how to appeal)
- IRS → SSA. SSA uses MAGI from the latest tax return IRS provides.[3]
- Letter. If IRMAA applies, SSA sends a letter with the amount and reason.[3]
- Wrong year or amended return. If SSA used an older year, or you amended and MAGI changed, contact SSA with proof.[3]
- Life-changing event. Income drop from marriage/divorce/death of spouse, work stoppage or cut hours, loss of income-producing property from a disaster, pension termination, or certain employer settlements may support a new decision. SSA Form SSA-44 (Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount – Life-Changing Event) is the usual path.[3]
- Disagree with MAGI. Fix the tax data with the IRS; then ask SSA to update.[3]
A late-enrollment penalty can make your Part B amount higher than the table above.[2]
2027: not announced yet
As of October 30, 2026, CMS had not published the official 2027 standard Part B premium, deductible, or IRMAA table. Those figures usually appear in a CMS fact sheet / Federal Register notice in November of the prior year (2026 amounts were released November 14, 2025).[1]
Do this when the notice posts:
- Open the CMS “Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles” fact sheet for the new year.
- Confirm the same numbers on Medicare.gov costs or publication 11579.
- Check your SSA letter for your personal IRMAA (lookback will be tax year 2025 for 2027 premiums).[3]
Help paying Part B
- Medicare Savings Programs and some Medicaid pathways can pay Part B premiums for people with limited income and resources—rules vary by state.[4]
- Start with Medicare.gov’s Medicaid overview and your state office, and use
as a screening aid (not a determination).[4]
- SHIP counselors explain premiums and plan choices for free.[5]
How this fits with enrollment and plan choice
- Missing your first Part B window can mean a late penalty for as long as you have Part B—see Medicare enrollment.[2]
- Part B premium is only one cost. Original Medicare + Medigap vs Medicare Advantage changes what else you pay—see Medicare Advantage vs Medigap.
- For a structured walkthrough (education only, no plan sales):
FAQ
Is the Part B premium the same as my Medigap or Advantage plan premium?
No. Part B is the federal medical-insurance premium. Medigap and Medicare Advantage add their own premiums on top of Part B in most cases.[2]
Does IRMAA use this year’s income?
Usually no. It uses MAGI from two years earlier (2024 income for 2026 premiums).[3]
Where do I see my exact amount?
SSA’s letter and your Social Security benefit statement. Questions: SSA 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).[2][3]
Will 2027 cost more?
CMS has not published 2027 rates yet. Wait for the official CMS / Medicare.gov notice rather than guessing from news headlines.
- Related: Medicare Annual Wellness Visit
- Related: How to find SHIP/SHIBA
Sources
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles (fact sheet). November 14, 2025. https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles. Accessed October 30, 2026.
- Medicare.gov. 2026 Medicare Costs (publication 11579 PDF). https://www.medicare.gov/publications/11579-medicare-costs.pdf. Accessed October 30, 2026.
- Social Security Administration. Medicare Premiums: Rules for Higher-Income Beneficiaries. https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/medicare/medicare-premiums.html. Accessed October 30, 2026.
- Medicare.gov. Medicaid. https://www.medicare.gov/basics/costs/help/medicaid. Accessed October 30, 2026.
- State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) locator. https://www.shiphelp.org/. Accessed October 30, 2026.
Disclaimer
This article is for general education only and is not medical, legal, tax, or Medicare enrollment advice. Premiums, IRMAA brackets, and rules change. Confirm current figures on Medicare.gov and CMS, and talk with Social Security and a SHIP counselor about your situation. In an emergency, call 911.
Attribution
Portions of this page are adapted from "HowToLiveBetter" (高性价比人生指南) by eternity4719, https://github.com/eternity4719/HowToLiveBetter, licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Changes: topic idea (health-insurance cost / enrollment timing) adapted and rewritten for U.S. Medicare Part B premiums and IRMAA (not a direct translation). China medical-insurance content was not used. Re-sourced to CMS, Medicare.gov, and SSA.
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