2026 Medicare premium estimate
Medicare Premium Calculator
Estimate monthly and annual Medicare premiums using 2026 Part A and Part B rates, income-related Part B and Part D adjustments, late-enrollment penalties and your entered private-plan costs.
Last Updated: August 28, 2026
This calculator uses official 2026 federal rates. Enter your 2024 modified adjusted gross income, tax filing status, coverage choices and plan-specific premiums. The result is an educational estimate, not a Medicare eligibility decision, Social Security premium notice or plan quote.
Calculate Your 2026 Medicare Premiums
Use amounts from your Social Security notice, Medicare account and plan documents when available. Deductibles, copayments, coinsurance and medical spending are not monthly premiums and are excluded.
Monthly and Annual Premium Breakdown
A zero amount means the component was excluded or did not apply under the entered assumptions.
| Premium component | Monthly | Annual | Calculation basis |
|---|
What This Medicare Premium Calculator Estimates
The calculator estimates the recurring premiums connected with Medicare coverage in 2026. It starts with your Part A premium status, includes Part B when selected, applies the income-related monthly adjustment amount for Part B and Part D, estimates late-enrollment penalties and adds plan-specific premiums you enter.
Medicare is not one single premium. Your total depends on the coverage you carry and your facts. Part A is premium-free for most beneficiaries. Part B has a standard premium that rises at higher income levels. Part D has a plan premium and a separate income adjustment for higher-income beneficiaries. Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement, also called Medigap, use private-plan pricing.
This tool separates each component so you can compare the estimate with your Social Security notice and plan documents. It does not determine eligibility, enrollment rights, tax filing status, work credits or assistance-program qualification.
How to Use the Medicare Premium Calculator
- Select your Part A premium status. Choose premium-free, the $311 reduced premium, the $565 full premium or exclude Part A.
- Indicate whether a Premium Part A late-enrollment penalty applies. Leave it at No unless Medicare or Social Security has assessed one.
- Select whether to include Part B. Enter the filing status and MAGI from the tax information used for your 2026 IRMAA decision, generally your 2024 return.
- Enter full Part B delay months only when you did not qualify for a penalty-free enrollment period. The tool counts complete 12-month periods.
- Enter your actual Part D or Medicare Advantage drug-plan premium. Add uncovered Part D months only when those months lacked creditable coverage.
- Add any Medicare Advantage, Medigap or other private-plan premium. Enter only a verified monthly credit or assistance amount.
- Review the monthly total, annual equivalent, IRMAA tier and detailed breakdown. Compare every amount with your official notices.
2026 Medicare Premium Amounts Used
| 2026 amount | Value | How the calculator uses it |
|---|---|---|
| Premium-free Part A | $0 monthly | Used when you qualify for Part A without a monthly premium. |
| Reduced Part A premium | $311 monthly | Used for 30 to 39 quarters of Medicare-covered employment or a qualifying spouse's record. |
| Full Part A premium | $565 monthly | Used for fewer than 30 quarters when Premium Part A applies. |
| Standard Part B premium | $202.90 monthly | Used at the standard income tier and as the base for the Part B late-enrollment penalty. |
| Part D national base beneficiary premium | $38.99 monthly | Used only to calculate the 2026 Part D late-enrollment penalty. It is not your plan premium. |
| IRMAA income year | 2024 MAGI | Used with filing status to select the 2026 Part B premium and Part D adjustment. |
CMS reports that about 99% of Medicare beneficiaries do not pay a Part A premium. Your own work record, spouse's record, disability status and enrollment history control the result.
Medicare Premium Formula
The calculator applies each premium component separately. It calculates income-related amounts before late-enrollment penalties and then subtracts the verified monthly credit you enter.
The result cannot fall below zero. Social Security, Medicare and your plan determine the amounts billed. Rounding, hold-harmless rules, Medicare Advantage reductions and plan billing practices can create a different official total.
Worked 2026 Medicare Premium Example
Assume an individual has premium-free Part A, Part B, a 2024 MAGI of $150,000 and a Part D plan costing $35 per month. The person has no Part B delay but has 14 full Part D uncovered months and no Extra Help.
The example excludes deductibles, coinsurance, medications and health care. A Part D plan or Medicare Advantage plan can have a $0 premium and still carry other costs. Enter the amount shown by the plan rather than an average.
2026 Medicare IRMAA Brackets
IRMAA is an extra amount paid by people with income above the applicable threshold. For 2026, Social Security generally uses MAGI from the 2024 federal tax return. The Part B figure below is the total income-adjusted monthly Part B premium. The Part D figure is added to the selected drug-plan premium.
| Individual MAGI | Joint MAGI | Part B total | Part D IRMAA |
|---|---|---|---|
| $109,000 or less | $218,000 or less | $202.90 | $0.00 |
| Over $109,000 to $137,000 | Over $218,000 to $274,000 | $284.10 | $14.50 |
| Over $137,000 to $171,000 | Over $274,000 to $342,000 | $405.80 | $37.50 |
| Over $171,000 to $205,000 | Over $342,000 to $410,000 | $527.50 | $60.40 |
| Over $205,000 and below $500,000 | Over $410,000 and below $750,000 | $649.20 | $83.30 |
| $500,000 or more | $750,000 or more | $689.90 | $91.00 |
Married Filing Separately and Living Together
Higher brackets apply when the IRS filing status is married filing separately and the couple lived together during part of the tax year.
| 2024 MAGI | Part B total | Part D IRMAA |
|---|---|---|
| $109,000 or less | $202.90 | $0.00 |
| Over $109,000 and below $391,000 | $649.20 | $83.30 |
| $391,000 or more | $689.90 | $91.00 |
If you filed separately but lived apart from your spouse throughout the tax year, contact Social Security. The calculator's lived-apart option applies the individual thresholds, consistent with the 2026 SSA-44 table.
Medicare Part A Premiums in 2026
Part A covers inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care under qualifying conditions, hospice and some home health care. Most beneficiaries pay no monthly Part A premium because they or a spouse have enough Medicare-covered employment.
40 or more quarters
Part A is generally premium-free when the work-credit requirement is met.
30 to 39 quarters
The reduced Premium Part A amount is $311 per month in 2026.
Fewer than 30 quarters
The full Premium Part A amount is $565 per month in 2026.
A Premium Part A late-enrollment penalty can increase the monthly premium by up to 10%. A person generally pays the higher premium for twice the number of years enrollment was delayed. Special Enrollment Period rules can remove the penalty. The calculator estimates a 10% monthly addition only when you select it.
Medicare Part B Premium and Late Penalty
The standard Part B premium is $202.90 per month in 2026. Higher-income beneficiaries pay the total Part B premium shown in the IRMAA table. Part B covers physician services, outpatient hospital services, durable medical equipment and other covered medical services.
The Part B late-enrollment penalty is 10% of the standard Part B premium for each complete 12-month period a person could have had Part B but did not enroll. Medicare rounds the final premium to the nearest $0.10. For example, a 24-month delay produces a 20% penalty. The calculator applies the penalty to the standard $202.90 base even when IRMAA also applies.
Medicare Part D Premium, IRMAA and Late Penalty
Private insurers set Part D plan premiums. Enter the actual monthly premium from the plan. The 2026 national base beneficiary premium of $38.99 is a statutory penalty base, not the price of your plan.
The Part D late-enrollment penalty equals 1% of $38.99 for each full uncovered month after the enrollment period. Medicare rounds the amount to the nearest $0.10 and adds it to the monthly premium. A continuous period of 63 days or more without Part D or other creditable drug coverage can trigger a penalty. People receiving Extra Help do not pay the Part D late-enrollment penalty.
Part D IRMAA is separate. At higher income levels, the income-related amount is added to the selected plan premium and any late penalty. Social Security usually collects IRMAA even when the plan collects its own premium.
Medicare Advantage and Medigap Premiums
Medicare Advantage, also called Part C, and Medigap premiums are not set by one national table. Prices depend on the plan, location, benefits, age-rating rules and enrollment status. Some Medicare Advantage plans charge $0 beyond the Part B premium. Some offer a Part B premium reduction, often called a giveback.
Enter the plan's monthly premium in the other-premium field. Enter a giveback only when the plan document states the exact monthly amount. A giveback does not remove Part B enrollment or every Part B obligation. Medigap premiums also do not replace Part B.
How Medicare MAGI Is Calculated
For Medicare IRMAA, MAGI generally equals adjusted gross income from line 11 of Form 1040 plus tax-exempt interest from line 2a. Social Security normally uses tax information from two years before the premium year. The 2026 calculation therefore generally uses 2024 MAGI and filing status.
If the 2024 information is unavailable, Social Security can use 2023 information. The official notice identifies the tax year and income used. Enter the amount from the notice when it differs from your own estimate.
Requesting a Lower IRMAA After a Life-Changing Event
If your income fell after marriage, divorce, a spouse's death, work stoppage, work reduction, loss of income-producing property, loss of pension income or an employer settlement payment, Form SSA-44 provides a process to request a lower IRMAA. A lower current income does not automatically change the billed amount. Social Security must approve the request.
Premium Assistance and Extra Help
Medicare Savings Programs can help eligible people pay Part A or Part B premiums and, in some cases, other Medicare cost sharing. Extra Help helps with Part D costs and removes the Part D late-enrollment penalty while the person qualifies.
Program income and resource limits, state rules and benefit amounts require an official eligibility decision. This calculator does not test eligibility. Enter a monthly credit only after receiving a benefits notice, plan confirmation or employer statement.
Calculator Scope and Limitations
- The calculator covers calendar year 2026 only.
- It estimates premiums, not deductibles, copayments, coinsurance or out-of-pocket spending.
- It does not test Medicare, Medicaid, Extra Help or Medicare Savings Program eligibility.
- It does not model the Part B hold-harmless provision, Medicare Advantage reduction or individual billing adjustments.
- It does not compare provider networks, formularies, drug tiers, plan benefits or total annual medical costs.
- It cannot decide whether late-enrollment months or exceptions apply.
- It uses entered private-plan premiums and credits without independently verifying them.
Use your Social Security and Medicare notices as controlling sources. Contact Medicare, Social Security, the State Health Insurance Assistance Program or the plan when the estimate does not match the billed amount.
Related Insurance and Retirement Calculators
Medicare Premium Calculator FAQs
What is the standard Medicare Part B premium in 2026?
The standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90 per month in 2026. A higher income-related premium, late-enrollment penalty or another billing adjustment can increase the amount.
Is Medicare Part A free in 2026?
Part A is premium-free for most beneficiaries who qualify through their own or a spouse's Medicare-covered work. The 2026 monthly premium is $311 for 30 to 39 quarters and $565 for fewer than 30 quarters when Premium Part A applies.
How does the calculator determine Medicare IRMAA?
It compares your entered 2024 MAGI and tax filing status with the official 2026 brackets. It selects the total Part B premium and the separate Part D income-related adjustment for that tier.
Which income year is used for 2026 Medicare premiums?
Social Security generally uses MAGI from the 2024 federal tax return to set 2026 IRMAA. If 2024 information is unavailable, it can use 2023 data. Your official notice identifies the year used.
How is the Part B late-enrollment penalty calculated?
The Part B premium generally increases by 10% of the standard premium for each complete 12-month period a person could have enrolled but did not. The calculator uses $202.90 as the 2026 penalty base.
How is the 2026 Part D late-enrollment penalty calculated?
The penalty equals 1% of the 2026 national base beneficiary premium of $38.99 multiplied by the number of full uncovered months. Medicare rounds the monthly result to the nearest $0.10.
Does the estimate include Medicare Advantage or Medigap?
Yes, when you enter the private plan's monthly premium in the other-premium field. The calculator does not look up plan prices, benefits, locations, networks or rating rules.
Does IRMAA apply to the Medicare Part A premium?
No. Medicare IRMAA applies to Part B and Medicare prescription drug coverage. Premium Part A depends on work quarters, eligibility and enrollment history rather than the IRMAA income brackets.
Can I request a lower Medicare IRMAA after my income drops?
You can ask Social Security for a new decision after a qualifying life-changing event and income reduction. Form SSA-44 lists the events, income information and evidence required. Social Security decides the request.
Are Medicare deductibles included in the premium estimate?
No. The calculator estimates recurring premiums only. It excludes the Part A hospital deductible, Part B annual deductible, copayments, coinsurance, drugs and other out-of-pocket health care costs.
Methodology, Sources and Editorial Review
The calculator stores the 2026 Part A, Part B and IRMAA values shown in official federal publications. It uses a transparent bracket lookup, complete-period penalty rules, nearest-$0.10 penalty rounding and direct addition of user-entered plan premiums. Calculations run in your browser and do not request a Medicare number, Social Security number, name or account login.
- CMS, 2026 Medicare Parts A and B Premiums and Deductibles
- Social Security, 2026 IRMAA Sliding Scale Tables
- Medicare.gov, Avoid Late Enrollment Penalties
- Medicare.gov, Part D Costs and Late Penalty
- Social Security Form SSA-44, Medicare IRMAA Life-Changing Event
Read the Calculator Methodology, Editorial Policy and Corrections Policy.
Calculator version 1.0 | Fact-checked August 28, 2026 | Reviewed by the 1Dollars editorial team
Health and financial disclaimer: This calculator provides a general educational estimate. It is not a Medicare eligibility decision, enrollment recommendation, insurance quote, tax calculation, legal opinion or medical advice. Official premiums depend on federal records, enrollment history, income data, plan terms, assistance programs and billing adjustments. Verify the result with Medicare, Social Security and your plan before making a coverage or financial decision.