The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced the premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts for Medicare Parts A and B for 2026. These changes also include adjustments to the income-related monthly amounts for Medicare Part D.
Medicare Part A covers services such as inpatient hospital care and skilled nursing facilities. For 2026, the inpatient hospital deductible will rise to $1,736, a $60 increase from 2025. Coinsurance for days 61 through 90 of hospitalization will be $434 per day, up from $419 in 2025. Beneficiaries in skilled nursing facilities will see their daily coinsurance increase to $217 from $209.50.
Most beneficiaries do not pay a premium for Part A due to sufficient Medicare-covered employment quarters. However, those with fewer than 40 quarters must pay a premium, which is set at $311 monthly for those with at least 30 quarters of coverage—a $26 increase—and $565 monthly for those with fewer than 30 quarters—a $47 increase.
Medicare Part B covers outpatient services and durable medical equipment. The standard monthly premium will be $202.90 in 2026, increasing by $17.90 from the previous year. The annual deductible will be raised to $283 from $257. Changes finalized in the Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule are expected to reduce spending on skin substitutes by 90%, preventing a higher premium increase.
Since 2007, Part B premiums have been adjusted based on income levels, affecting about 8% of beneficiaries. The total premiums vary depending on income brackets; high-income individuals can expect to pay more based on their earnings.
For immunosuppressive drug coverage under Part B, individuals whose full Medicare coverage ended after a kidney transplant can continue this coverage by paying a premium of $121.60 in 2026.
Medicare Part D premiums are also adjusted based on income since 2011, impacting approximately 8% of beneficiaries who pay these additional amounts along with their plan premiums.
Further details on these changes can be found at https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection.
Information from this article can be found here.
