Costs · 2026
Medicare premium calculator
Enter your income from two years ago and your plan choices. You get one itemized bill: Part A from work history, Part B with any surcharge, and Part D with your plan premium.
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Written and maintained by Daniel SmithCalifornia, USA
| Part A, 40 or more quarters | $0.00/monthPremium-free for most people and their spouses. |
|---|---|
| Part A, fewer than 30 quarters | $565.00/monthAbout $6,780.00 a year if you must buy Part A. |
| Part B standard premium | $202.90/monthThe same for everyone before the income surcharge. |
| Part B highest income tier | $689.90/monthSingle filers above the top income line, from the surcharge two years ago. |
| Part B deductible | $283.00 per yearPaid before Part B cost sharing starts. |
| Part D | Your plan premium + surchargeStand-alone drug plans set their own premiums, and the surcharge is billed by Medicare. |
Your result
Estimated Medicare premium
Enter your income from two years ago to see your estimated Medicare bill.
Enter your income from two years ago
The estimate needs one income number to pick your bracket, then your plan choices to add Part A, Part B, and Part D together.
How much is Medicare Part B premium
The standard Part B premium for 2026 is $202.90 a month. If your income from two years ago sits above the first bracket, an income surcharge is added on top, and the highest single-filer tier reaches $689.90 a month. Part B also has a yearly deductible of $283.00 before cost sharing begins.
Work history does not change Part B. Almost everyone pays it, and the amount comes out of your Social Security check if you take benefits. The full surcharge chart and the two-year lookback are on the IRMAA cliff checker.
What does Medicare cost per month
Three pieces make up the bill, and this medicare cost calculator adds them. Part A depends on quarters of work and is $0.00 for most people. Part B is the standard premium plus any surcharge. Part D is your plan’s own premium plus the same surcharge, billed separately by Medicare. The calculator adds them for one person or a married couple, so the total Medicare premium you see includes every household member who is enrolled.
Deductibles, copays, and coinsurance sit outside this premium number: the Part B deductible is $283.00 for 2026, and the Part A inpatient deductible is $1,736.00 per benefit period.
Medicare Part D plan premium
Stand-alone Part D plans set their own premiums, so this number is yours, not a government rate. Enter it in the calculator and the surcharge from your income two years ago is added on top. That surcharge is billed by Medicare as a separate line, not through your plan, which is why the plan’s bill and Medicare’s bill can differ.
People with modest income may qualify for Extra Help, which lowers drug costs directly. The Medicare Savings Program and Extra Help calculator checks those income and asset limits.
What changed for 2026 compared with 2025
| Rule | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Part B premiumThe base monthly figure before any income surcharge. | $185.00 | $202.90 |
| Part B deductibleWhat you pay each year before Part B cost sharing starts. | $257.00 | $283.00 |
| Part A premium, 30–39 quartersThe buy-in rate for people short of 40 work quarters. | $285.00 | $311.00 |
| Part A premium, under 30 quartersThe rate for the smallest work records. | $518.00 | $565.00 |
Worked examples
Four households run through the same three steps: pick the bracket from income two years ago, add Part A from work quarters, then add each person’s Part D plan premium.
| Input or result | Single, $80,000.00 | Single, $150,000.00 | Joint, $250,000.00, both enrolled | Single, $40,000.00, 35 quarters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part A monthly | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $311.00 |
| Part B each person | $202.90 | $405.80 | $284.10 | $202.90 |
| Part D each person | $38.99 | $76.49 | $53.49 | $0.00 |
| Household total each month | $241.89 | $482.29 | $675.18 | $513.90 |
| Household total each year | $2,902.68 | $5,787.48 | $8,102.16 | $6,166.80 |
Source: CMS, 2026 Parts A & B premiums and CMS, 2026 Part D figures, checked 2026-10-28. The example plan premium is the national base beneficiary premium CMS publishes for 2026, $38.99; your own drug plan charges its own rate.
MedicareClear is independent. We do not sell plans, rank carriers, or claim an official connection to Medicare.gov or any government agency.
What to do next
- Pull last year’s tax return and find your modified adjusted gross income. That one number picks your bracket.
- Find your Part D plan premium on the annual notice from your plan, and enter it above so the bill is complete.
- If your income dropped this year because of a life-changing event, file Form SSA-44 with Social Security so a lower year is used instead. See the SSA-44 guide.
- During October 15 to December 7, compare Part D plans. A cheaper plan for your drugs is the fastest legal way to cut this bill.
Three honest caveats
- The surcharge comes from the tax return two years ago, so a big sale, conversion, or bad year shows up in a future premium, not this one. The calculator shows that distance as headroom.
- Plan premiums and drug costs change every year. This estimate uses the 2026 government figures plus the plan premium you enter, not next year’s numbers.
- Premiums are only half the cost. Deductibles, copays, and out-of-pocket maximums are separate, and this page does not estimate them.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Medicare cost per month?
For most people in 2026, Medicare costs the Part B premium of $202.90 a month, plus whatever their Part D plan charges, plus $0.00 for Part A when 40 work quarters are met. The calculator above turns those three pieces into one bill.
Does everyone pay the Part B premium?
Almost everyone who takes Part B pays a premium, because it is not tied to work history. It is deducted from your Social Security check if you get one, or billed if you do not. Only a Medicare Savings Program or other public program can pay it for you.
Does Medicare include prescription drug coverage?
Original Medicare does not include routine drug coverage. You join a stand-alone Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drugs, and that plan has its own premium, which the calculator adds to your bill.
What income is used for Medicare premiums?
Your modified adjusted gross income from two years ago picks your bracket. For the 2026 premium that is the tax return you filed for 2024, with foreign earned income and tax-exempt interest added back.
Can I pay Medicare premiums monthly?
Yes. Social Security can deduct the Part A and Part B premiums from your monthly check. If you are not getting benefits, Medicare sends a bill, usually every three months for Part B and monthly for a Part A premium.
What is the Medicare premium for a married couple?
Part B and Part D are per person. Two enrolled spouses each pay their own, so at the standard 2026 rate that is $202.90 each for Part B before any plan premium, and the income brackets use your joint return.
Related help
Source table
| Figure | Value used | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Part B standard premium | $202.90 | CMS 2026 Parts A & B fact sheetChecked |
| Part B deductible | $283.00 | CMS 2026 Parts A & B fact sheetChecked |
| Part A premiums by quarters | $311.00 or $565.00 | CMS 2026 Parts A & B fact sheetChecked |
| Income surcharge tiers | Income from two years ago sets Part B and Part D surcharges | CMS 2026 Part D premium figuresChecked |
| How the bill is paid | Social Security deduction or a Medicare bill | Medicare.gov costs at a glanceChecked |
Cite this page
If you cite this page, use the reference below. It shows the date the figures were last checked so readers can judge whether they are current.
MedicareClear. “Medicare premium calculator.” Figures checked October 28, 2026. https://medicareclear.top/calculators/medicare-premium-calculator/
Print the checklist for a parent or keep a copy for your records. If a figure looks wrong, send the page and the official source you used.
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MedicareClear is independent and is not connected to Medicare.gov, Social Security, or any government agency. This page is educational and does not provide legal, tax, or insurance advice. Confirm your premium with Medicare or Social Security before you act.
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