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what is medicare part b deductible

The Medicare Part B deductible is the amount you must pay out of pocket each year for Part B-covered services before Original Medicare starts paying its share. For 2026, the standard Medicare Part B deductible is $283.

Quick Scoop

  • In 2026, the annual Medicare Part B deductible is $283 for all standard Part B enrollees.
  • You pay this once per year; after you’ve met it, Medicare generally pays 80% of approved Part B services, and you typically pay 20% coinsurance.
  • The deductible increased from $257 in 2025, reflecting regularly adjusted Medicare costs.

What the Part B Deductible Is

Medicare Part B helps pay for doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, and certain medical supplies. The Part B deductible is the yearly threshold you must cover for these services before Original Medicare begins cost-sharing.

Once you have paid the full deductible amount in a given year, Medicare usually covers 80% of the Medicare-approved amount for Part B‑covered services, and you are responsible for the remaining 20% coinsurance, unless other coverage (like a Medigap plan or employer coverage) helps pay it.

2026 Dollar Amount

  • 2025 Part B deductible: $257.
  • 2026 Part B deductible: $283.

This $26 increase is part of the regular yearly updates that account for changes in health care prices and utilization in Medicare.

How It Works in Real Life

Here is a simple example of how the Medicare Part B deductible plays out during the year.

  • Early in the year, if your first Part B visit (for example, a specialist appointment) costs $200 and it is subject to the deductible, you pay the full $200, and that amount goes toward your $283 deductible.
  • At your next visit, suppose the Medicare-approved amount for your outpatient service is $300 and you still have $83 left to meet your deductible; you pay $83 to finish the deductible, and then Medicare generally covers 80% of the remaining $217 while you pay 20% coinsurance.

Preventive services like the annual “Wellness” visit or certain screenings may be covered without applying the deductible, depending on the specific service and Medicare rules.

Other Things to Know

  • Some people with low incomes can get help paying the Part B deductible through Medicare Savings Programs run by state Medicaid agencies.
  • If you have a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C), your deductible and cost structure can be different from the standard Part B deductible; those plans set their own cost-sharing within Medicare rules.
  • Official, up-to-date Part B cost figures are published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and listed on Medicare.gov.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.