In short
- The 2026 standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month, up $17.90 from $185.00 in 2025.
- After the $283 deductible (2026), you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, and Part B has no out-of-pocket maximum.
- IRMAA raises Part B to as much as $689.90 a month in 2026, based on 2024 income above $109,000 (single) or $218,000 (joint).
- The 2027 Part B premium has not been announced. The Medicare Trustees project about $209.50, but that is a projection, not the final number.
- If you are not drawing Social Security, Medicare bills you directly, usually every 3 months.
Medicare Part B is medical insurance. It pays for doctors, outpatient care, tests, equipment and preventive services, both in the office and while you are in the hospital. It is the part of Medicare most people pay for every month: in 2026, the standard premium is $202.90, the deductible is $283, and after that you usually pay 20%.
The 2027 Part B premium and deductible are not announced yet. CMS usually releases them in November. This page will use 2026 figures until then.
What does Medicare Part B cover?
Part B covers medically necessary care you get outside a hospital admission, plus doctors' services anywhere. According to Medicare & You 2027, that includes:
- Visits to doctors, nurse practitioners and specialists, including in the hospital
- Outpatient surgery, emergency room visits and observation stays
- Lab tests, X-rays, MRIs and other imaging
- Ground ambulance rides when other transport would endanger your health
- Durable medical equipment like walkers, wheelchairs, oxygen and hospital beds
- Outpatient mental health care, physical therapy and occupational therapy
- Some home health care (shared with Part A)
- A limited set of drugs, mostly ones given in a clinic, like infusions and injections
- Many preventive services, including a "Welcome to Medicare" visit in your first 12 months and a yearly "Wellness" visit after that
You pay nothing for most preventive services if your provider accepts assignment. If the doctor adds tests that are not part of the preventive benefit, you may owe the deductible and coinsurance for those.
How much is the Part B premium in 2026?
The standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month in 2026, up $17.90 from $185.00 in 2025. Most people pay the standard amount. You pay more if your income two years ago was above certain limits (see IRMAA below), and you pay more if you owe a late enrollment penalty.
For 2027, the official premium is not out yet. The 2026 Medicare Trustees Report projects about $209.50 a month and a deductible around $292. Treat those as estimates until CMS publishes the final figures in November.
What a year of premiums looks like at the 2026 standard rate:
| One person | Married couple (both on Medicare) | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Part B premiums | $202.90 | $405.80 |
| Yearly Part B premiums | $2,434.80 | $4,869.60 |
| Plus yearly deductible | $283 | $566 |
Each spouse pays their own premium and deductible, because Medicare is individual coverage. That is before any Medigap, Part D or Medicare Advantage premium.
What does Part B cost when you use it?
After you meet the $283 deductible in 2026, Medicare pays 80% of the Medicare-approved amount and you pay 20%. There is no yearly limit on your 20%.
Worked example. You have outpatient knee surgery in 2026 with a Medicare-approved amount of $5,000, and it is your first Part B care of the year.
- You pay the first $283 (the deductible).
- That leaves $4,717. You pay 20% of it: $943.40.
- Your total: $1,226.40. Medicare pays the other $3,773.60.
If you then need physical therapy, imaging or follow-up visits, you keep paying 20% of each one for the rest of the year.
What if a doctor doesn't accept assignment?
Doctors who accept assignment agree to take the Medicare-approved amount as full payment. Doctors who do not accept assignment can charge you more; in many cases the limit is 15% above the Medicare-approved amount, called the "limiting charge." You may also have to pay the whole bill at the visit and wait for Medicare to reimburse its share. Medigap Plans F and G are the only plans that cover these excess charges. You can check a provider on Medicare.gov's Care Compare.
Do you pay more for Part B with a higher income?
Yes. If your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) from your 2024 tax return was above $109,000 single or $218,000 married filing jointly, you pay an income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA) on top of the standard premium in 2026. CMS says about 8% of people with Part B pay it.
| 2024 MAGI, single | 2024 MAGI, joint | Total Part B premium per person, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| $109,000 or less | $218,000 or less | $202.90 |
| Over $109,000 to $137,000 | Over $218,000 to $274,000 | $284.10 |
| Over $137,000 to $171,000 | Over $274,000 to $342,000 | $405.80 |
| Over $171,000 to $205,000 | Over $342,000 to $410,000 | $527.50 |
| Over $205,000 to under $500,000 | Over $410,000 to under $750,000 | $649.20 |
| $500,000 or more | $750,000 or more | $689.90 |
For 2027, Medicare & You 2027 lists the first threshold as $111,000 single or $222,000 joint, based on 2025 income. The full 2027 brackets come out with the November announcement. Part D has its own IRMAA, and you can appeal if your income dropped after retirement. All of that is in our IRMAA guide.
How do you pay the Part B premium?
If you get Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits, the premium comes out of your monthly payment. You do not need to do anything.
If you are not drawing benefits yet, you get a bill, usually every 3 months (monthly if you also pay a Part A premium or Part D IRMAA, or use Medicare Easy Pay). You can pay:
- Online through your Medicare.gov account, by card, bank account or HSA card
- With Medicare Easy Pay, which deducts the payment from your bank account each month
- Through your bank's bill pay
- By mail with the coupon from your bill
New enrollees are often surprised by the first quarterly bill, because it covers 3 months at once. It is normal. If you are still working and have an HSA, note that you can use HSA money to pay Medicare premiums; see HSAs and Medicare.
When should you sign up for Part B?
Most people should sign up during their Initial Enrollment Period, the 7 months around their 65th birthday. If you wait without qualifying coverage, you face two problems: a gap (you can only sign up from January 1 to March 31, with coverage starting the next month) and a permanent penalty.
The Part B penalty is 10% of the standard premium for each full 12 months you could have had Part B but did not. For example, at the 2026 rate a 2-year delay adds 20%, or $40.58, for a total of about $243.50 a month after rounding. Run your own numbers with the Part B penalty calculator, and read late enrollment penalties for more examples.
You can usually delay Part B without a penalty if you or your spouse are still working and covered by an employer with 20 or more employees. COBRA, retiree coverage and individual Marketplace coverage do not count. See working past 65 and COBRA vs Medicare.
Can you get help paying the Part B premium?
Yes, if your income and savings are limited. Medicare Savings Programs, run in Nebraska by the Department of Health and Human Services, can pay your Part B premium, and the most generous one (QMB) also covers your deductibles and coinsurance. Enrolling in one also erases any Part B late enrollment penalty. In Nebraska for 2026, the programs reach monthly incomes up to $1,796 for one person (DHHS figure, before a standard $20 income disregard), with resources under $9,950. See Medicare Savings Programs in Nebraska.
For unbiased help with Part B questions, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (TTY 1-877-486-2048), or Nebraska SHIP at 1-800-234-7119.
Frequently asked questions
It has not been announced as of October 2, 2026. CMS usually releases the next year's Part B premium and deductible in November; the 2026 figures came out November 14, 2025. The 2026 Medicare Trustees Report projects about $209.50 a month for 2027 and a deductible near $292, but those are estimates. Until CMS announces, the official amount is the 2026 premium of $202.90.
Yes, if you receive Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits, the premium is deducted from your monthly payment automatically. If you are not drawing benefits yet, Medicare mails you a bill, usually every 3 months. You can pay online through your Medicare account, sign up for Medicare Easy Pay for automatic monthly deductions, pay through your bank, or mail a check.
No. Original Medicare has no yearly limit on what you pay. After the $283 deductible in 2026, you typically owe 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for every covered service, however large the bills get. Medigap policies and Medicare Advantage plans are the two common ways people put a ceiling on that risk.
A provider who does not accept assignment can charge more than the Medicare-approved amount, in many cases up to 15% more. That extra is called an excess charge or limiting charge, and you may have to pay the full bill upfront and wait for Medicare's share. Medigap Plans F and G cover excess charges. Medicare.gov's Care Compare tool shows which providers accept assignment.
Not always. If you or your spouse are actively working and covered by an employer plan, you can usually delay Part B without a penalty and sign up later during an 8-month Special Enrollment Period. The employer's size matters: with fewer than 20 employees, Medicare is supposed to pay first, so you generally need Part B. COBRA and retiree coverage do not count as current employment coverage.
Only a limited set. Part B covers some drugs given in a doctor's office or hospital outpatient setting, like many infusions and injections, plus certain others such as some oral cancer drugs and insulin used in a pump. Insulin covered by Part B costs no more than $35 for a month's supply. Most pharmacy prescriptions fall under Part D instead.
Sources
- CMS: 2026 Medicare Parts A and B premiums and deductibles (opens in a new tab)
- Medicare & You 2027 handbook (CMS Product 10050) (opens in a new tab)
- 2026 Medicare Trustees Report (opens in a new tab)
- Medicare.gov: Medicare costs (opens in a new tab)
- Medicare.gov: Avoid late enrollment penalties (opens in a new tab)
- Medicare.gov: Insulin coverage (opens in a new tab)
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. 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.
