How Much Will You Pay for Medicare Part B in 2026?

How much are you going to pay for your Medicare Part B? Standard, More, or Free?

Regular or Standard Part B Premium:

Most people on Medicare don’t pay a monthly premium for Medicare Part A because they or their spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes long enough to qualify for premium-free Part A. Medicare Part B is different

Most Medicare beneficiaries pay a monthly Part B premium — and depending on your income, you could pay considerably more. For 2026, the standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90 per month, and the annual Part B deductible is $283. But $202.90 isn’t necessarily what everyone pays. If you’re new to Medicare or want a broader explanation of Original Medicare, enrollment and your coverage choices, visit our Medicare Guide.  

Will You Pay More for Medicare Part B Because of Your Income? 

Higher-income Medicare beneficiaries may pay an additional amount called the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, or IRMAA. For 2026, IRMAA begins when your Modified Adjusted Gross Income exceeds: $109,000 for an individual tax return $218,000 for a married couple filing jointly Depending on your income, your total 2026 Part B premium can range from the standard $202.90 per month to $689.90 per month. And here’s something that surprises many of my clients: Medicare generally looks at your income from two years earlier when determining whether you owe IRMAA. That can create a problem for someone who recently retired. Your income today may be much lower than it was when you were working. Certain life-changing events — including retirement or a reduction in work — may allow you to ask Social Security to reconsider your IRMAA determination. I’ve helped clients understand this process and determine where to go when their current income no longer resembles the income Medicare is using to calculate their premium.  

Can You Get Help Paying Your Medicare Part B Premium?  

Possibly. People with limited income and resources may qualify for a Medicare Savings Program through their state. Depending on the program for which you qualify, assistance may help pay your Part B premium and, in some cases, other Medicare cost-sharing such as deductibles, coinsurance and copayments. There are several Medicare Savings Programs, including:

• Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB)
• Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB)
• Qualifying Individual (QI)Eligibility

rules and income limits can change, so don’t assume you won’t qualify based on an old number you found online.  

What About Medicare Advantage Plans That Help Pay Your Part B Premium?

You’ve probably seen advertisements for Medicare Advantage plans that claim to “give money back” toward your Medicare Part B premium. These plans do exist. Certain Medicare Advantage Plans (Clickable- Advantage plans page) offer a Part B premium reduction, sometimes called a Part B giveback. The amount varies by plan and county. But I would never recommend choosing a Medicare Advantage plan simply because it offers a Part B give back. You still need to look at the things that can matter much more: Are your doctors in the network? Is your preferred hospital included? What are the copys for specialists and hospital care? What is the plan’s maximum out-of-pocket amount? Are your prescriptions on the formulary? Do important medications require prior authorization? Are referrals required? What happens if you need care outside the network? Saving money on your Part B premium isn’t much of a bargain if the health plan doesn’t work well when you actually need medical care.

Don’t Forget About the Part B Late Enrollment Penalty

If you don’t enroll in Medicare Part B when you’re first eligible and you don’t qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, you may also face a late enrollment penalty. Generally, the Part B penalty adds 10% for each full 12-month period you could have had Part B but didn’t enroll. Unlike many temporary penalties, the Part B late enrollment penalty generally continues for as long as you have Part B. That’s why it’s important to understand whether coverage you have through an employer allows you to delay Part B without a penalty before deciding not to enroll. You can learn more about when to enroll and when you may be able to delay Medicare on our Medicare Enrollment Periods page.

How Much Will Medicare Really Cost You?

The Part B premium is only one piece of the Medicare puzzle. When I counsel someone who’s becoming eligible for Medicare, I don’t think the right question is simply, “What’s my Part B premium? “The better question is: What will my total Medicare coverage cost, and what am I getting for that money? That means looking at Medicare Part B along with your choice of a Medicare Supplement and Part D prescription drug plan or a Medicare Advantage plan.

Those choices can have a much larger effect on your healthcare costs than the Part B premium alone. At BenefitPackages.com, we’ve been helping individuals understand Medicare and health insurance since 1987. We’ll explain your options, compare plans available in your area, and help you make sense of the costs without making Medicare more complicated than it needs to be. Have questions about Medicare Part B or your Medicare coverage? Call BenefitPackages.com at 818-999-3595. We make insurance easy.