Medicare costs · 2026
Estimate your real 2026 Medicare cost.
Three honest tools, no plan names: check whether the income surcharge applies to you, see what the new $2,100 drug cap saves you, and learn why "$0 premium" isn't the same as free. Then we'll run your exact numbers for free.
Quick answer
Most people pay the standard $202.90 Part B premium in 2026; higher earners pay an income-related surcharge (IRMAA) on Part B and Part D based on their 2024 income. Separately, the 2026 Part D out-of-pocket drug cap is $2,100 — after that you pay $0 for covered drugs. A "$0-premium" Medicare Advantage plan still requires your Part B premium plus copays as you use care. These are federal figures, not plan rates.
Updated 2026-06-06 · Source: CMS, 2026
1. Will the income surcharge (IRMAA) apply to you?
Most people pay only the standard Part B premium. Higher earners pay an income-related surcharge on Part B and Part D. Your 2026 surcharge is based on the income (MAGI) from your 2024 tax return. Your entries stay in your browser.
MAGI = your adjusted gross income plus any tax-exempt interest. IRMAA is a federal calculation by Social Security — not a plan rate. If your income dropped after a life event (retirement, loss of a spouse), you can ask Social Security to reconsider with Form SSA-44.
2. What does the 2026 $2,100 drug cap save you?
New for recent years: once your out-of-pocket spending on covered prescriptions hits the federal $2,100 cap in 2026, you pay $0 for covered drugs the rest of the year. Slide to your expected annual drug spend (before the cap).
Illustrative only. The cap applies to covered drugs under Medicare drug coverage; what counts toward it and your monthly costs depend on your specific drugs and coverage. You can also spread payments over the year (the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan). We confirm your real drug costs against the available drug lists together.
3. Is a "$0-premium" plan really free?
Short answer: no — "$0 premium" is not the same as "$0 cost." Here's what you still pay on a $0-premium Medicare Advantage plan:
- Your Part B premium — $202.90/month in 2026 (more if IRMAA applies, per the tool above). You pay this no matter which path you choose.
- Copays and coinsurance as you use care — doctor visits, hospital stays, tests, drugs — up to the plan's yearly out-of-pocket maximum (which can be several thousand dollars in-network).
- Anything out of network or not covered by that plan.
The honest comparison is total expected cost for your situation: a $0-premium plan (lower fixed cost, pay-as-you-go) versus Original Medicare plus a supplement (higher premium, very predictable bills). We run both — free, no obligation, and we never push one online.
Want your real number?
Send your situation and Matt will put together a free, no-obligation cost comparison — your Part B premium, any surcharge, and your real out-of-pocket both ways.
Prefer to look on your own first? You can compare every plan in your area and enroll online — Matt stays your agent for questions.
Compare & Enroll OnlineCommon questions
Does the Medicare income surcharge (IRMAA) apply to me?
Most people do not pay IRMAA — only higher earners do. For 2026, the surcharge starts above $109,000 in modified adjusted gross income for single filers and $218,000 for married filing jointly, based on your 2024 tax return. Below those amounts you pay only the standard Part B premium of $202.90 a month.
What is the 2026 Part D out-of-pocket drug cap?
In 2026, once you spend $2,100 out of pocket on covered prescription drugs, you pay $0 for covered drugs for the rest of the calendar year. This federal cap applies across Medicare drug coverage — it is not a feature of any single plan or carrier.
Is a $0-premium Medicare Advantage plan really free?
No. "$0 premium" means the plan itself charges no monthly premium — but you still pay your Part B premium ($202.90 a month in 2026, more if IRMAA applies), plus copays and coinsurance as you use care, up to the plan's yearly out-of-pocket maximum. Whether a $0 plan or Original Medicare with a supplement costs less overall depends on your situation — that is exactly what a free review compares.
Will this estimator tell me which plan to choose?
No — and on purpose. The rules that govern Medicare marketing mean we do not name, rank, or recommend specific plans or carriers on the website. This estimator gives you the federal numbers so you walk into your free, no-obligation review already knowing what to expect.
Figures are 2026 federal amounts (CMS / Social Security) and are illustrative — your actual costs depend on your income, the coverage you choose, and your specific care and prescriptions. We do not offer every plan available in your area, and nothing here is a recommendation of a specific plan or carrier. You can contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for all of your options.