Premiums, deductibles, and the numbers that matter
Medicare isn’t free, but its costs are predictable once you know the pieces. Here are the standard 2026 amounts, plus the extra costs to plan for — and how the right coverage keeps them in check.
The standard Part B premium is $202.90/month for 2026 (higher earners pay more via IRMAA). Most people pay $0 for Part A. Part D out-of-pocket drug costs are capped at $2,100 for the year, and once you hit it, covered drugs cost $0. A Medicare Advantage plan’s in-network out-of-pocket maximum is capped at $9,250, with many plans lower.
The gaps Original Medicare leaves — the 20% coinsurance, no out-of-pocket cap — are exactly what Medigap or Medicare Advantage are built to control. Which one saves you more depends on your health, your doctors, and your budget, and comparing every year matters because plans change.
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The Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount is a surcharge higher-income beneficiaries pay on top of the standard Part B and Part D premiums, based on your tax return from two years prior.