What Part B pays for
Part B helps with two kinds of care. The first is care that is medically necessary to diagnose or treat a condition: visits with doctors and other providers, outpatient care, lab work, mental health care, ambulance rides and durable medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers and hospital beds. The second is preventive care, like screenings and shots meant to catch a problem early or keep it from starting. Most preventive services cost you nothing when the provider accepts assignment, which means they take Medicare's approved amount as payment in full.
Inpatient hospital stays are a Part A benefit, and most prescriptions you fill at a pharmacy come from Part D. Part B does cover a limited set of drugs, mostly ones given in a clinic or used with covered equipment.
What Part B costs in 2026
Monthly premium
The standard amount is $202.90 in 2026, owed every month whether or not you use any Part B services. It can be higher with a higher income.
Yearly deductible
$283, paid once a year before Original Medicare begins paying its share.
Your share after that
Usually 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for doctor and other provider services, as long as the provider accepts assignment.
Insulin with a pump
Insulin covered under Part B for an insulin pump costs no more than $35 for a month's supply, and the deductible does not apply.
That 20% has no yearly ceiling in Original Medicare. A long illness or a surgery can add up, which is the gap a Medigap policy is designed to fill, and Medicare Advantage plans cap yearly costs in their own way. Our guides to Medigap and Medicare Advantage explain the difference.
Paying more because of income
About 8% of people with Part B pay more than the standard premium because of their income. Medicare calls this the income-related monthly adjustment amount, or IRMAA, and a similar adjustment is added to Part D premiums for people with higher incomes. The income brackets are set each year; if you think the adjustment may apply to you, we can walk through the current figures with you.
Signing up on time
If you do not sign up for Part B when you first can, and you do not have coverage from a current job that lets you wait, you may owe a penalty: 10% more for each full 12 months you could have had Part B, added to your premium for as long as you have it. See late enrollment penalties and turning 65 and signing up.
Common questions
Do I have to take Part B?
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Does Part B cover preventive care?
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Get your free reviewSources (7)
Medicare.gov: What Part B covers
Medicare.gov: Parts of Medicare
Medicare.gov: Medicare costs
CMS: 2026 Medicare Parts A and B premiums and deductibles
Medicare.gov: Avoid late enrollment penalties
Medicare.gov: Your coverage options
Medicare.gov: Understanding health plan costs
Last reviewed October 2026. Medicare rules, dates and dollar amounts can change each year; Medicare.gov has the official details.