Medicare's 2026 Changes: What Your Preventive Care Will Cost Next Year

Medicare Part B costs are rising in 2026, with monthly premiums increasing from $185 to $202.90 and annual deductibles climbing to $283, but preventive services like screenings and wellness visits remain covered at minimal or zero cost when you meet eligibility requirements. For a single person, that's an extra $240.80 per year before any actual medical care begins. The good news: understanding these changes now gives you time to plan and protect the preventive care that keeps you healthy.

How Much Will Medicare Part B Cost You in 2026?

Medicare Part B is the portion of Original Medicare that covers doctor visits, outpatient care like emergency room visits that don't result in hospital admission, imaging, lab work, and—critically—many preventive services including screenings and annual wellness visits. Starting January 1, 2026, the costs shift in two ways you'll feel immediately.

The standard monthly premium rises to $202.90, up $17.90 from 2025. For most people, this comes straight out of their Social Security check, so you'll notice a smaller deposit rather than a separate bill. The annual deductible increases to $283. Here's the real-world math: a single person on the standard premium will pay $2,434.80 in yearly premiums plus $283 in deductible costs, totaling $2,717.80 before most cost-sharing even begins—that's $240.80 more than 2025. For a couple, both on standard premiums, the combined increase reaches $481.60 per year.

Will Your Income Trigger Higher Medicare Premiums?

If you earn above a certain threshold, you'll pay more. This surcharge is called Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA), and it's based on your tax return from two years prior. For 2026 Medicare premiums, Social Security uses your 2024 tax return. The starting threshold is $109,000 for single filers based on modified adjusted gross income. If you're at or below that level, you pay the standard $202.90 Part B premium. Cross that line, and your premium jumps sharply.

The frustrating part: IRMAA can reflect a year that no longer matches your life. Selling a home, large Individual Retirement Account (IRA) withdrawals, Roth conversions, and capital gains can push you into a higher bracket even if your current income is lower. If your income dropped due to retirement, reduced work hours, divorce, or the death of a spouse, you can appeal through Social Security for an IRMAA reconsideration so you're not stuck paying a surcharge based on an old, higher-income year.

How to Protect Your Preventive Care Without Skipping Appointments

When premiums rise, the temptation to postpone checkups is real—but it often backfires. A better strategy is to treat the premium increase like a utility bill, then safeguard the preventive care that keeps you stable. Many preventive services under Part B are covered at zero cost to you when you meet requirements, making them one of the best values in Medicare.

• Build the premium into your monthly budget: If your premium comes out of Social Security, adjust your spending plan for a smaller deposit. If you pay Medicare directly, set up automatic payment so you don't miss it and risk coverage gaps.
• Check for help paying Medicare costs: Ask your state Medicaid office about Medicare Savings Programs, and ask Social Security about Extra Help for Part D drug costs. Even if you think you earn too much, it's worth a quick check because eligibility rules vary by state.
• Use preventive care that's covered: Getting screenings and wellness visits on time can prevent expensive surprises later. These services are designed to catch problems early when treatment is simpler and less costly.
• Reduce billing surprises before they happen: Always confirm whether a provider accepts Medicare assignment. When they do, they agree to Medicare-approved amounts, which helps limit what you can be billed. If they don't, your share can be higher and bills can feel like they came out of nowhere.

The key insight: preventive care is your financial backstop. A $0 wellness visit today prevents a $5,000 emergency room visit tomorrow. When premiums rise, this value becomes even more important, not less.

What's Changing for Medicare Advantage Plans in 2026?

If you're on Medicare Advantage (Part C), there's one small but real improvement. The maximum allowed in-network out-of-pocket cap drops to $9,250 in 2026, down from $9,350 in 2025. This is your financial safety net—once your spending on covered, in-network services hits this limit, your plan covers eligible in-network Part A and Part B costs at 100% for the rest of the year.

It's easy to focus on the monthly premium because it's predictable. The out-of-pocket maximum is different; it's there for the year your health takes a turn. Picture this: you feel fine all year, then you slip on ice and need unexpected surgery. Suddenly, you have an emergency room visit, imaging, surgeon fees, anesthesia, a hospital stay, follow-up specialist visits, and weeks of rehabilitation therapy. Each step brings a copay or coinsurance, and those smaller bills add up fast. Your plan's out-of-pocket maximum is like a seat belt—you hope you never need it, but you want it to work when things go wrong. The lower the cap, the less you risk paying in a bad health year.

Keep in mind that the cap applies only to covered services and usually only to in-network care, depending on your plan design. Out-of-network rules can be different, and extra benefits like dental, vision, and hearing often have their own limits and may not count toward the medical out-of-pocket maximum.

These Medicare Benefit Changes for 2026 are manageable with a plan, but they're hard to absorb if you only notice them after your check hits the bank. The time to act is now—review your 2024 tax return, confirm your provider accepts Medicare assignment, and lock in those preventive appointments before the new year arrives.