Average Cost of Medicare Per Month in 2026: Full Breakdown

The Building Blocks of Your Monthly Medicare Cost

Medicare isn't one bill. It's a stack of premiums and cost-sharing amounts that add up differently depending on the path you choose. Before we get to sample budgets, here are the 2026 numbers that everyone needs to know.

Part A: usually free, but not always

Most people get Part A at no cost because they (or a spouse) paid Medicare taxes for at least 40 quarters. If you didn't, you'll pay a monthly Part A buy-in premium. CMS lists the base Part A premium at $565 per month in 2026, with a $621.50 monthly premium for those with a 10% surcharge, and a $311 monthly premium for those with 30 to 39 quarters of coverage. Everyone shares the same Part A cost-sharing when hospitalized.

Part B: the premium everyone pays

The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B enrollees is $202.90 for 2026, an increase of $17.90 from $185.00 in 2025. The annual Part B deductible is $283 in 2026, up $26 from $257 in 2025.

If your income is higher, you pay an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) surcharge based on your 2024 tax return.

For a deeper dive on income surcharges and how to appeal them, see our full guide to Medicare IRMAA brackets for 2026.

Part A hospital cost-sharing

If you're admitted to the hospital, you pay:

• Part A deductible of $1,736 per benefit period, up $60 from $1,676 in 2025
• $434/day coinsurance for days 61 to 90, and $868/day for lifetime reserve days (91 to 150)
• $217/day skilled nursing coinsurance for days 21 to 100

These aren't monthly costs, but they're the reason most beneficiaries buy supplemental coverage. A short hospital stay can easily produce a $2,000+ out-of-pocket bill on Original Medicare alone. For a full walkthrough, see our guide to Medicare Part A and Part B coverage.

Part D and Medicare Advantage Premiums

Standalone Part D drug plans

For 2026, the Part D national base beneficiary premium is $38.99, up from $36.78 in 2025 (a jump of about 6%, the maximum allowed by the Inflation Reduction Act's premium stabilization provision). This is the amount used to calculate the late enrollment penalty. What you actually pay depends on the plan you pick.

CMS projects the average standalone Part D plan premium at about $34.50 in 2026, down from $38.31 in 2025. KFF's enrollment-weighted analysis shows a similar trend, with the average non-group PDP premium dropping from $39 to $36 between 2025 and 2026, while MA-PD Part D premiums rose slightly from $7 to $8.

No Medicare drug plan may have a deductible more than $615 in 2026, and some plans have no deductible. Every 2026 Part D plan also comes with a $2,100 annual out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs (up from $2,000 in 2025). For help choosing among carriers and tiers, our Medicare Parts A, B, C and D beginner's guide walks through the process.

Medicare Advantage plan premiums

CMS estimates that the average monthly plan premium among all Medicare Advantage enrollees in 2026, including those who pay no premium for their MA plan, is $14.00 a month, down from $16.40 in 2025. Most enrollees are in $0-premium plans and pay only the separate Part B premium.

But the premium isn't the whole story. All Medicare Advantage plans must have a maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) limit at or below a cap set annually by CMS, which is $9,250 in 2026 for in-network services and $13,900 for in-network and out-of-network combined. According to KFF, the average out-of-pocket limit for Medicare Advantage enrollees is $5,421 for in-network services and $9,825 for in-network and out-of-network services combined in 2026.

Medigap Premiums by Plan Letter and Age

Medigap (Medicare Supplement) fills the gaps Original Medicare leaves behind. Premiums vary widely, but here are 2026 national averages by age for the three most popular plans.

Actual quotes swing dramatically by state and carrier. A 65-year-old in Texas might see Plan G at $151 from one carrier and $220 from another, while in Florida the same plan can range from $185 to over $310. Rates are also moving fast in 2026: Telos Actuarial's Q3 tracking shows an industry-wide Plan G rate hike averaging about 16.8%, with the six largest carriers filing increases between 12% and 26% for the year. Shopping every renewal matters more than ever.

If premiums feel steep, High-Deductible Plan G is worth a look. It averages just $40 to $75/month at age 65 in exchange for a $2,950 annual deductible before coverage kicks in. For a side-by-side look at every plan letter, see our Medigap plans comparison chart.

Why the Same Plan Costs Different Amounts

Two 66-year-olds can buy identical Plan G coverage and pay wildly different premiums. Here's why.

ZIP code and state

Insurers price by region based on claims experience, provider costs and state regulations. Community-rated states like New York and Connecticut tend to have higher but flatter premiums (New York Plan G runs from about $354 to $483 per month according to MoneyGeek's 2026 data). States like South Carolina, Iowa and North Dakota can be 40 to 60% cheaper for the same plan letter, with averages closer to $120 to $160/month. Our guide to Medicare Supplement plans by state breaks down these differences.

Tobacco use

Most Medigap carriers charge tobacco users 10 to 50% more. If you quit for at least 12 months, many will reclassify you as a non-user at your next renewal.

Age-rating method

There are three ways insurers price Medigap policies:

Issue-age plans lock in your rate based on the age you enrolled. Arizona, Florida, Georgia and Missouri prohibit attained-age pricing entirely. Rating rules change your lifetime bill significantly, so review our Medicare Supplement cost guide if you're near a state border or considering a move.

Three Sample Monthly Budgets

Here's what real Medicare costs look like for three common scenarios in 2026.

Budget 1: Original Medicare + Plan G + Part D (age 67, middle income)

Plus roughly $283 for the Part B deductible each year and whatever drug copays you incur (capped at $2,100 annually). Almost every other cost, including the $1,736 Part A deductible and 20% Part B coinsurance, is covered by Plan G. For the full picture of what this plan covers, see our Plan G coverage and cost breakdown.

Budget 2: Medicare Advantage HMO (age 67, healthy)

But you should budget for utilization: doctor copays of $10 to $40, specialist copays of $40 to $60, hospital daily copays of $300 to $500, and up to $9,250 in a bad year. If you're weighing this against Medigap, our full Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage comparison walks through the trade-offs.

Budget 3: Dual-Eligible (Medicare + full Medicaid)

Beneficiaries with limited income and resources qualify for a Medicare Savings Program (QMB, SLMB, or QI) that pays their Part B premium. Full-benefit dual-eligibles pay virtually nothing out of pocket.

Tips to Lower Your Monthly Medicare Costs

A few actions worth taking today:

• Shop Medigap every 1 to 2 years. Same benefits, different price. Our guide to getting Medicare Supplement quotes shows how.
• Consider a Part B giveback MA plan. Some Medicare Advantage plans rebate part of your $202.90 Part B premium. See our Part B giveback guide.
• Appeal IRMAA after a life change. If you retired, got divorced or lost income after your 2024 tax year, file Form SSA-44 to remove the surcharge.
• Stack household and online discounts. Many Medigap carriers offer 5 to 12% off if a spouse also enrolls, plus $2 to $5/month for autopay.
• Understand what Medicare doesn't cover. Dental, vision, hearing aids and long-term care aren't in Original Medicare. Our guide to what Medicare doesn't cover explains how to plan around those gaps.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the true average cost of Medicare per month in 2026?

For a beneficiary with Original Medicare, Plan G and a standalone Part D plan, the typical all-in monthly premium runs about $400 to $450 in 2026. Medicare Advantage enrollees usually pay only the $202.90 Part B premium plus $0 to $30 for their MA plan, but face higher out-of-pocket costs when they use care. Higher-income beneficiaries pay more due to IRMAA, and low-income beneficiaries can pay nothing at all through Medicaid and Extra Help.

Do I still pay the Part B premium if I have Medicare Advantage?

Yes. Enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan doesn't replace Part B, it changes how your benefits are delivered. You continue paying the standard $202.90 monthly Part B premium (plus any IRMAA) directly to Medicare, in addition to any premium your MA plan charges. Some MA plans offer a giveback that rebates part of the Part B premium back to you.

How much does a Medigap Plan G cost in 2026?

The national average Plan G premium is about $165.85 at age 65, rising to $181.41 at 70, $205.12 at 75, $251.92 at 80 and $266.87 at 85. Real quotes range from about $130 to over $300 depending on your state, carrier, gender, tobacco use and the plan's age-rating method. Comparing at least three carriers is the single fastest way to lower your monthly cost.

Why is my Medicare premium higher than my neighbor's?

Two big reasons: income and coverage choices. If your 2024 modified adjusted gross income was above $109,000 (single) or $218,000 (joint), you pay an IRMAA surcharge that ranges from about $81 to $487 extra per month for Part B alone. Beyond that, your neighbor may have a cheaper Medigap plan, a different age-rating method or a Part B giveback Medicare Advantage plan.

Is Medicare Advantage really cheaper than Original Medicare plus Medigap?

On premium alone, yes. Most MA plans cost $0 to $30/month versus $170+ for Plan G. But MA plans charge copays and coinsurance every time you use care, and can require you to hit a $5,000 to $9,250 out-of-pocket max in a heavy year. For someone with chronic conditions or predictable healthcare needs, Original Medicare plus Medigap is often cheaper over a full year despite the higher premium.