2026 Medicare Part B Premium

The 2026 standard Part B premium

The standard 2026 Part B premium is $202.90 per month. Most beneficiaries pay this amount. On top of the premium, Part B has an annual deductible of $283. Once you meet the deductible, you generally pay 20% coinsurance on Medicare-approved services such as doctor visits, outpatient care, lab work, and durable medical equipment.

Importantly, that 20% has no annual capunder Original Medicare. A serious illness can produce large bills, which is why many people pair Part B with a supplement — see our out-of-pocket maximum guide.

How the premium is paid

If you already collect Social Security, your Part B premium is automatically deducted from your monthly benefit, so you never write a check. If you have not yet claimed Social Security, Medicare sends you a bill every three months (you can also pay electronically through Medicare Easy Pay). When Social Security gives a cost-of-living adjustment, the premium and your benefit are usually adjusted together.

IRMAA: higher earners pay more

Higher-income beneficiaries pay an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) on top of the standard premium. Social Security uses your tax return from two years prior to decide whether a surcharge applies, and the same income test adds a surcharge to your Part D drug coverage. The brackets change every year — see our dedicated IRMAA guide and planning strategies to learn how to manage or appeal it.

The late-enrollment penalty

If you do not enroll in Part B when first eligible and you lack other qualifying coverage (such as active employer insurance), you may face a permanent penalty: your premium increases 10% for every full 12-month period you could have had Part B but did not. Because the penalty usually lasts for life, timing your enrollment correctly matters.

Where Part B fits in your total cost

Part B is just one piece. To see the Part A hospital costs, the $35 insulin cap, and the new Part D drug ceiling alongside this premium, visit the Medicare costs hub and our deductibles and copays breakdown. If you are weighing coverage paths, our Advantage vs. Supplement comparison shows how Part B interacts with each.

Source: CMS, 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles (November 2025).