Medicare Part B
Updated September 2026 · 2026 figures from CMS and Medicare.gov
Medicare Part B is medical insurance. In 2026 the standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month and the deductible is $283 a year. After the deductible you usually pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount. People with higher incomes pay more through IRMAA.
2026 IRMAA brackets
IRMAA (income-related monthly adjustment amount) is based on your tax return from two years earlier, so 2026 premiums use 2024 income.
| 2024 MAGI – individual return | 2024 MAGI – joint return | Part B premium | Part D IRMAA |
|---|---|---|---|
| $109,000 or less | $218,000 or less | $202.90 | $0.00 |
| $109,001 – $137,000 | $218,001 – $274,000 | $284.10 | $14.50 |
| $137,001 – $171,000 | $274,001 – $342,000 | $405.80 | $37.50 |
| $171,001 – $205,000 | $342,001 – $410,000 | $527.50 | $60.40 |
| $205,001 – $499,999 | $410,001 – $749,999 | $649.20 | $83.30 |
| $500,000 or more | $750,000 or more | $689.90 | $91.00 |
Married, filing separately and lived with your spouse during the year: $109,000 or less → $202.90; $109,001 – $390,999 → $649.20 (Part D IRMAA $83.30); $391,000 or more → $689.90 (Part D IRMAA $91.00).
What Part B covers
- Doctor and other health care provider services
- Outpatient care, including hospital outpatient and "observation" stays
- Preventive services such as flu shots, screenings and a yearly wellness visit (most at no cost)
- Lab tests, X-rays and other diagnostic tests
- Durable medical equipment (walkers, wheelchairs, oxygen)
- Ambulance services, outpatient mental health, some drugs given in a doctor's office (such as chemotherapy and many injections)
Part B has no yearly out-of-pocket maximum. That's why many people add a Medigap policy or choose Medicare Advantage, which has a cap.
How you pay the Part B premium
If you get Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits, the premium comes out of your monthly payment. Otherwise Medicare bills you, and you can pay online through your Medicare.gov account, by Medicare Easy Pay automatic deduction, or by mail. If your income is limited, the Medicare Savings Program can pay your Part B premium.
Part B late enrollment penalty
If you don't sign up when you're first eligible and don't have job-based coverage from current employment, your premium goes up 10% for each full 12 months you could have had Part B — and you pay it for as long as you have Part B. Enroll in your Initial Enrollment Period or within 8 months of losing employer coverage.
Can you lower your IRMAA?
If your income has fallen because of a life-changing event — retirement or reduced work, marriage, divorce, death of a spouse, loss of a pension or income-producing property — you can ask Social Security to use a more recent year with Form SSA-44. Large RMDs, Roth conversions and capital gains can all push you into a higher IRMAA bracket two years later.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Medicare Part B premium for 2026?
$202.90 a month for most people, more for those with 2024 income above $109,000 (individual) or $218,000 (joint).
What is the Part B deductible for 2026?
$283 a year.
What are the 2026 IRMAA brackets?
They start at 2024 income above $109,000 for individuals and $218,000 for joint filers, with Part B premiums of $284.10, $405.80, $527.50, $649.20 and $689.90.
Is Part B mandatory?
No, but if you delay it without other qualifying coverage from current employment, you may pay a lifelong late penalty.