Medicare Deductibles
The amount you must pay out of pocket each year before Medicare Part A, Part B, or Part D begins paying its share — set annually by CMS.
Official source: medicare.gov
A **Medicare deductible** is the amount you pay before Medicare starts covering its share of costs. Each part of Medicare has its own deductible, and they reset on different schedules.
**Part A (hospital) deductible — 2026: $1,736 per benefit period.** Unlike a calendar-year deductible, the Part A deductible resets every "benefit period," which begins the day you're admitted as an inpatient and ends 60 days after discharge. If you're re-admitted after that 60-day window, a new deductible applies.
**Part B (medical) deductible — 2026: $283 per calendar year.** After you meet it, Medicare typically pays 80% of approved costs and you (or your Medigap plan) pay the remaining 20%.
**Part D (prescription drug) deductible — 2026: up to $615 per calendar year**, set by each plan. Some plans waive the deductible on lower tiers.
**Medicare Advantage (Part C):** deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums are set by each plan, not by CMS. Unlike Original Medicare, Advantage plans must cap your annual in-network out-of-pocket spending.
**Important 2025 change for Part D:** a new **$2,100 annual out-of-pocket cap** for covered drugs applies after the deductible — once you've paid $2,000 in true out-of-pocket costs, the plan covers the rest for the year.
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Frequently asked questions about Medicare Deductibles
What is the Medicare Part A deductible for 2026?+
$1,736 per benefit period. The deductible resets each benefit period, not each year, so multiple hospital stays in different benefit periods can each trigger a new deductible.
What is the Medicare Part B deductible for 2026?+
$283 per calendar year. After you meet it, Medicare generally pays 80% of approved charges and you (or a Medigap plan) pay 20%.
Does Medigap cover Medicare deductibles?+
Most Medigap plans cover the Part A deductible in full. Plans sold to new enrollees today (Plan G and Plan N) cannot cover the Part B deductible — that change applies to anyone newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020.
How does the 2025 Part D out-of-pocket cap work?+
Starting January 1, 2025, Part D enrollees pay no more than $2,100 in true out-of-pocket costs for covered drugs per year. After hitting that cap, the plan pays 100% for the rest of the year.
Do Medicare Advantage plans have their own deductibles?+
Yes. Medicare Advantage plans set their own deductibles, copays, and an annual in-network out-of-pocket maximum (capped by CMS at $9,550 in-network for 2026).
Source: medicare.gov