Medicare Part B Cost: Average Rates & What Drives Them

Medicare Part B is the medical insurance part of Original Medicare. It covers doctor visits, outpatient care, and many preventive services, and most enrollees pay a monthly premium for it. The premium is set by the federal government each year, so unlike private insurance there are no insurer quotes to compare for the standard amount.

What you pay in a given year depends on three things: the standard premium, any income related surcharge, and the deductible and coinsurance when you use services. This guide lays out the 2026 numbers and shows how they changed from 2025.

The standard premium applies to most people. It is the same in every state, and it is set from projected spending on Part B services. CMS announced the 2026 amount alongside the deductible, and both rose from the year before.

The 2025 premium is listed above for comparison. The increase from one year to the next is the amount most beneficiaries notice, since the premium is usually taken out of a monthly Social Security payment. If you are not yet receiving Social Security benefits, you are billed directly.

Higher earners pay a surcharge called the income related monthly adjustment amount, or IRMAA. The Social Security Administration decides which bracket you fall in, using the tax return from two years earlier. For 2026 premiums, that means your 2024 return.

Each bracket shows the total monthly premium, not only the surcharge. The brackets differ for single filers and joint filers, and people who are married but file separately face a different scale. Because the thresholds are cliffs, a small change in reported income can move you from one bracket to the next.

If your income has dropped since the tax year Social Security used, for example because you retired or lost income, you can ask Social Security to reconsider the bracket. The agency lists the qualifying life events on its website.

After you pay the annual deductible shown above, Part B typically pays 80 percent of the Medicare approved amount for covered services, and you pay the rest. Original Medicare has no yearly cap on those costs, which is why many people add a Medigap policy or choose a Medicare Advantage plan. Those are separate products with their own premiums.

The deductible resets every January. A person who has few doctor visits in a year may pay little beyond the premium, while someone with frequent specialist care or outpatient procedures pays more.

For most cost topics, different sources disagree. Part B is unusual because the figure is set by federal rule, so official sources agree.

Third party sites sometimes show a different number because they list the premium for another year or for a higher income bracket. Check that any figure you read is for 2026 and for your filing status.

• Income: the tax return Social Security uses can place you in a higher bracket.
• Enrollment timing: people who delay Part B without qualifying coverage may owe a late enrollment penalty that is added to the premium for as long as they have Part B.
• Assistance programs: state Medicare Savings Programs can pay the premium for people with limited income and resources.
• Employer coverage: people still working with employer coverage sometimes delay Part B, and the rules depend on employer size.

For help with a specific situation, the Medicare.gov site, 1-800-MEDICARE, or a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) counselor can explain options at no charge.