These are the official 2026 amounts from CMS. For the amounts published so far for next year, see Medicare costs in 2027.
Part B premium and deductible
The 2026 standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month, up from $185 in 2025. The Part B deductible is $283 a year. After the deductible, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for most services. Higher-income Washington residents pay more through IRMAA.
2026 IRMAA brackets (Part B and Part D)
IRMAA for 2026 is based on your modified adjusted gross income from your 2024 tax return. The brackets are cliffs: one dollar over a threshold means the whole higher amount.
| Single (2024 income) | Joint (2024 income) | Total 2026 Part B premium | Part D amount added to your plan premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to $109,000 | Up to $218,000 | $202.90 | None |
| $109,001–$137,000 | $218,001–$274,000 | $284.10 | $14.50 |
| $137,001–$171,000 | $274,001–$342,000 | $405.80 | $37.50 |
| $171,001–$205,000 | $342,001–$410,000 | $527.50 | $60.40 |
| $205,001–$499,999 | $410,001–$749,999 | $649.20 | $83.30 |
| $500,000 or more | $750,000 or more | $689.90 | $91 |
Married and filing separately, and lived with your spouse during the year? Your Part B premium is $202.90 up to $109,000 of income, $649.20 above that up to $390,999, and $689.90 at $391,000 or more. Full guide: IRMAA in Washington.
Part A costs
| Item | 2026 cost |
|---|---|
| Premium, with 40 or more quarters of Medicare-covered work (yours or your spouse's) | No premium |
| Premium, with 30–39 quarters | $311 a month |
| Premium, with fewer than 30 quarters | $565 a month |
| Hospital deductible per benefit period | $1,736 |
| Hospital days 1–60 | Nothing after the deductible |
| Hospital days 61–90 | $434 a day |
| Lifetime reserve days (60 in your lifetime) | $868 a day |
| Skilled nursing facility days 21–100 | $217 a day |
Part D costs
| Item | 2026 amount |
|---|---|
| Yearly out-of-pocket cap for covered drugs | $2,100 |
| Highest deductible a plan can charge | $615 |
| Covered insulin, per month's supply | No more than $35 |
| National base beneficiary premium | $38.99 a month |
| Late enrollment penalty | 1% of the national base beneficiary premium for each full month without creditable drug coverage, added to your premium for as long as you have Part D |
Each plan sets its own premium. The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread Part D out-of-pocket costs across the year instead of paying all at once at the pharmacy. More on prescription drug costs in Washington.
Medigap in Washington
Insurance companies set Medigap premiums, so there is no single Washington price. Washington law requires a company to charge the same premium to everyone it sells a given standardized plan to, rather than pricing by age, with limited exceptions such as spousal discounts and a separate rating pool for people who have Medicare because of a disability or end-stage renal disease (RCW 48.66.045). CMS sets a few amounts for the standardized plans:
| Medigap amount set by CMS | 2026 |
|---|---|
| High-deductible Plan G deductible (also high-deductible Plan F, for people eligible for Medicare before 2020) | $2,950 |
| Plan K yearly out-of-pocket limit (Plan K pays 50% of most cost sharing) | $8,000 |
| Plan L yearly out-of-pocket limit (Plan L pays 75%) | $4,000 |
| Plan N copays | Up to $20 for some office visits, up to $50 for emergency room visits that don't lead to admission |
To compare current premiums for your ZIP code, use Medicare.gov's Medigap search. See Medigap in Washington.
Medicare Advantage costs
With a Medicare Advantage plan you still pay your Part B premium, plus any premium the plan charges. Each plan sets its own premium, copays and yearly out-of-pocket limit. In 2026, a plan's in-network out-of-pocket limit for Part A and Part B services can be no more than $9,250, and a PPO's combined in- and out-of-network limit no more than $13,900. Original Medicare has no yearly limit. Many Washington Medicare Advantage plans end on December 31, 2026; see Washington Medicare plans ending in 2027 and Medicare Advantage in Washington.
Programs that reduce costs
- Medicare Savings Programs pay your Part B premium, and QMB also pays Medicare deductibles and coinsurance, for people with income up to 138% of the federal poverty level. Washington has no asset test. More
- Extra Help lowers Part D premiums, deductibles and copays. Since 2024, the full benefit is available up to 150% of the federal poverty level ($23,940 a year for one person in 2026). More
- Apple Health, Washington's Medicaid, pays Medicare premiums and cost sharing for people who qualify for both, and covers some services Medicare doesn't. More
A licensed insurance agent with Benefits Life can explain how plans from the companies they work with handle these costs, at no cost to you. Call (206) SENIORS (206-736-4677), TTY 711, or see plans in your ZIP code.
Sources
- CMS — 2026 Medicare Parts A & B premiums and deductibles (including IRMAA)
- CMS — CY 2026 Rate Announcement (Part D benefit parameters)
- Medicare.gov — Medicare costs
- Medicare.gov — Costs for Medicare drug coverage
- Medicare.gov — Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance)
- RCW 48.66.045 — Medicare supplement policies: replacement and premiums
- Social Security — Premiums: rules for higher-income beneficiaries
- Washington Health Care Authority — Medicare Savings Program
- Medicare.gov — Help with drug costs (Extra Help)
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Part B premium in 2026?
The standard 2026 Part B premium is $202.90 a month. People with higher incomes pay more through IRMAA, up to $689.90 a month at the top bracket.
What is the 2026 Part A hospital deductible?
$1,736 per benefit period. After that, Original Medicare pays covered hospital costs for days 1 to 60; from day 61 you pay daily coinsurance.
What is the 2026 Part D out-of-pocket cap?
$2,100. Once your out-of-pocket costs for covered Part D drugs reach that amount, you pay nothing more for covered drugs for the rest of 2026. You still pay your plan premium.
How much do Medigap plans cost in Washington?
Each insurance company sets its own Medigap premiums, and Washington requires a company to charge the same premium to everyone with the same standardized plan, whatever their age, with limited exceptions. To see current premiums for your ZIP code, use Medicare.gov's Medigap search or ask a licensed insurance agent.
Can an income drop reduce my IRMAA?
Yes. If your income fell because of a life-changing event such as retirement, a reduction in work, divorce or the death of a spouse, you can ask Social Security to use a more recent year's income with Form SSA-44.
Medicare in your Washington county
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