Medicare deductibles represent the amount you must pay out-of-pocket for covered services before your insurance begins to pay. For 2026, deductibles across all parts of Medicare have increased to reflect rising healthcare costs.

Part A (Hospital Insurance)

The Part A deductible is unique because it is not an annual amount; it applies to each benefit period. A benefit period begins the day you are admitted to a hospital and ends when you have been out of the hospital (or a skilled nursing facility) for 60 consecutive days.

  • 2026 Deductible: $1,736 per benefit period.
  • What it Covers: This payment covers your share of costs for the first 60 days of Medicare-covered inpatient hospital care.
  • Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF): You do not pay a separate Part A deductible for SNF care if it occurs within the same benefit period as your hospital stay. However, a daily coinsurance of $217 applies for days 21–100.

Part B (Medical Insurance)

Unlike Part A, the Part B deductible is an annual amount that you pay once per calendar year.

  • 2026 Deductible: $283 per year.
  • How it Works: You pay 100% of your Medicare-approved medical bills (doctor visits, outpatient care, tests) until you reach this $283 limit.
  • After the Deductible: Once met, you typically pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for most services, and Medicare pays the remaining 80%.

Part D (Prescription Drugs)

Part D deductibles are set by private insurance companies, but the federal government places a limit on the maximum amount they can charge.

  • 2026 Maximum Deductible: $615 per year.
  • Variety: Many plans offer a lower deductible or a $0 deductible, particularly for “Tier 1” generic drugs.
  • The 2026 Cap: Even if you have a high deductible, a major 2026 protection is the $2,100 total out-of-pocket cap. Once your combined spending on deductibles and copays reaches $2,100, you pay $0 for covered drugs for the rest of the year.

2026 Deductible Summary Table

Medicare Part2026 Deductible AmountFrequency
Part A (Hospital)$1,736Per Benefit Period
Part B (Medical)$283Once Per Year
Part D (Drugs)Up to $615Once Per Year
Medigap (High-Deductible G)$2,950Once Per Year

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Fact Sheet (Nov 2025); and Medicare.gov “2026 Costs” Update.