2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles
On November 14, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2026 premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance amounts for the Medicare Part A and Part B programs, and the 2026 Medicare Part D income-related monthly adjustment amounts.
Medicare Part A Premium and Deductible
Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospital, skilled nursing facility, hospice, inpatient rehabilitation, and some home health care services. Approximately 99% of Medicare beneficiaries do not have a Part A premium since they have at least 40 quarters of Medicare-covered employment, as determined by the Social Security Administration.
The Medicare Part A inpatient hospital deductible that beneficiaries pay if admitted to the hospital will be $1,736 in 2026, an increase of $60 from $1,676 in 2025. Part A inpatient hospital deductible covers beneficiaries’ share of costs for the first 60 days of Medicare-covered inpatient hospital care in a benefit period. In 2026, beneficiaries must pay a coinsurance amount of $434 per day for the 61st through 90th day of a hospitalization ($419 in 2025) in a benefit period and $868 per day for lifetime reserve days ($838 in 2025). For beneficiaries in skilled nursing facilities, the daily coinsurance for days 21 through 100 of extended care services in a benefit period will be $217.00 in 2026 ($209.50 in 2025).
PIBF Members enrolling in Medicare Part B after age 65
The PIBF staff receives numerous calls from plan participants who are having difficulty enrolling in Medicare Part B without a penalty. Generally, an individual 65 years of age or older who loses group coverage has eight months from the last date of employment to purchase Medicare Part B to avoid a penalty. (COBRA is not considered group coverage.) The following information discusses the rules for individuals who have health coverage eligibility through an hours bank arrangement (PIBF falls in this category), which may provide an alternative to the standard eight-month rule, thereby eliminating the penalty portion of the Medicare Part B premium.
For all information, please visit the official website for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services by clicking the link below.
Click HERE to visit the official website.
CMS-L564: Request for Employment Information
In order to apply for Medicare in a Special Enrollment Period, you must have or had group health plan coverage within the last 8 months through your or your spouse’s current employment. People with disabilities must have large group health plan coverage based on your, your spouse’s or a family member’s current employment.
This form is used for proof of group health care coverage based on current employment. This information is needed to process your Medicare enrollment application.
The employer that provides the group health plan coverage completes the information about your health care coverage and dates of employment.
Click HERE to get the form.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES – CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES – Form Approved – OMB No. 0938-0787
