The 2026 Medicare Numbers That Actually Matter
Every January the Medicare figures reset, and every January people overpay because they are working from last year’s numbers. Here are the 2026 figures we use every day, verified against CMS. Reviewed August 2026.
Original Medicare costs for 2026
- Part A hospital deductible: $1,736 per benefit period – not per year. You can pay it more than once in a year.
- Hospital days 61-90: $434 per day; lifetime reserve days $868 per day.
- Skilled nursing days 21-100: $217 per day.
- Part B premium: $202.90 per month for most people.
- Part B deductible: $283 per year.
Drug coverage: the $2,100 cap
Your out-of-pocket cost for covered Part D prescriptions is capped at $2,100 for 2026. Once you hit the cap, covered drugs cost you nothing for the rest of the year. If you take expensive medications, this cap – not the premium – is the number to plan around.
Medigap numbers worth knowing
- High-deductible Plan F and Plan G: $2,950 deductible for 2026.
- Plan K out-of-pocket maximum: $8,000. Plan L: $4,000. Both jumped sharply from 2025 because CMS changed how the figure is indexed – if you own K or L, this is the year to re-check the math.
Want us to run your situation against these numbers? Book a free Medicare call or phone (855) 847-7020. And remember: California’s Birthday Rule gives you 60 days from your birthday each year to switch Medigap plans with no health questions.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (in California, HICAP at 1-800-434-0222) to get information on all of your options.