Medicare Out-of-Pocket Costs: What You'll Pay in 2026

3-minute readPublished 03/28/2024Updated 12:24 PM EST, 10/09/2026

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Understanding Medicare out-of-pocket costs can be important when planning for healthcare expenses. Between premiums, deductibles and copayments, it's easy to get confused about what you'll actually pay.

Here’s a look at out-of-pocket costs you might pay if you have Medicare.

What are Medicare out-of-pocket costs?

Medicare out-of-pocket costs are the health care costs you pay on your own. Medicare does not pay these costs for you. These can include your monthly premium, deductible, copays and coinsurance.

For example, with Original Medicare, you may need to pay a deductible before Medicare starts to help pay. After that, you may still pay part of the cost for care, like doctor visits or outpatient services. People with Medicare Advantage may have different costs, like set copays and a yearly limit on what they pay for covered services. If you have a Part D drug plan, you may also pay some of the cost for your medicines.

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3-minute readPublished 03/28/2024Updated 12:24 PM EST, 10/09/2026

Medicare out-of-pocket costs for Original Medicare (Part A and B) in 2026

Medicare Part A helps cover services you receive in a hospital or long-term care setting. Medicare Part B helps pay for services and supplies you receive outside of a hospital inpatient setting. Here are some of the costs you might pay for both.

Original Medicare Part A and Part B for 2026


	Costs
Part A premium	People who’ve worked for 10 years or more, and had Social Security taxes withheld, generally don’t have to pay a premium for Part A.
Part A deductible and coinsurance⁴	$1,736 deductible for each benefit period* Days 1–60: $0 coinsurance for each benefit period Days 61–90: $434 coinsurance per day of each benefit period Days 91 and beyond: $868 coinsurance per each "lifetime reserve day" after day 90 for each benefit period (up to 60 days over your lifetime) Beyond lifetime reserve days: all costs
Part B premium⁵	The standard Part B monthly premium amount in 2026 is $202.90 or higher, depending on your income
Part B deductible and coinsurance⁶	In 2026, the annual deductible for Part B coverage is $283, after which you typically pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for most doctor services, outpatient therapy, and durable medical equipment (DME)
Annual maximum out-of-pocket costs	There is no maximum out-of-pocket limit with Original Medicare

Additional Medicare coverage options that help reduce out-of-pocket costs

Additional Medicare coverage options that help reduce out-of-pocket costs
	Costs
Part D premium (prescription drug plan)	Part D premiums, deductibles and copays vary by plan See costs for our Medicare prescription drug plans
Medicare Supplement insurance	There is a monthly premium for these plans. Medicare Supplement plans help pay some of the healthcare costs that Original Medicare doesn't cover, like copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. They generally don't cover long-term care, vision or dental care, hearing aids, eyeglasses, or private-duty nursing. See costs for our Medicare Supplemental plans
Optional supplemental benefits: vision, dental and fitness	There is a monthly premium for these plans.

Medicare Advantage and out-of-pocket costs

Unlike Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) are required to include an annual maximum limit for out-of-pocket costs. That means once you reach the plan’s limit through deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance for covered services, the plan pays 100% of covered in-network costs for the rest of the year. Costs for out-of-network care may be higher and may not count toward the limit.

How can I lower my Medicare out-of-pocket costs?

You may be able to save money on Medicare by checking your coverage each year. If you have limited income and resources, a Medicare Savings Program (MSP) could also help you save on Medicare costs if you qualify.

Here are some more ways to possibly lower Medicare out-of-pocket costs:

Use in-network doctors, specialists, hospitals and pharmacies
Ask about generic, lower-cost or mail-order medicines
Ask your doctor if there is a lower-cost treatment or test

Learn more about Medicare

For more information on the costs, coverage and types of Medicare plans, check out our library of Medicare articles . To see Medicare plans in your area with their premiums, copays and participating doctors and pharmacies, visit our Humana Medicare plans page .

Frequently asked questions

1. What costs does Medicare not cover?

There are some things Original Medicare generally won’t cover, like vision, dental and hearing services. To learn more, check out what Medicare covers (and doesn’t cover) .

2. Does Medicare pay 100% of your medical bills?

No, Medicare does not cover all of your medical bills. Even for covered care, you may still have to pay deductibles, copays and coinsurance.

*A benefit period begins the day you're admitted as an inpatient in a hospital or skilled nursing facility (SNF). The benefit period ends when you haven't received any inpatient hospital care (or skilled care in a SNF) for 60 days in a row. If you go into a hospital or a SNF after 1 benefit period has ended, a new benefit period begins. You must pay the inpatient hospital deductible for each benefit period. There's no limit to the number of benefit periods. Spending time in the hospital several times over the course of a single year can also increase these costs.