How Much Does Medicare Cost?

How Much Does Medicare Part A Cost^{1, 2}?

Part A helps pay for inpatient care at:

• Hospitals
• Skilled nursing facilities
• Hospice

It also covers some outpatient home health care.

Part A Monthly Premium – $0 for most people

The monthly premium for Part A is $0 if you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years (40 quarters). If you did not pay Medicaid taxes for 10 years, you might still be eligible for Part A, but your monthly premium could be as high as $518.

Part A Deductible – $1,676 per benefit period

A benefit period begins the day you're admitted as an inpatient in a hospital or skilled nursing facility. The benefit period ends when you haven't gotten any inpatient hospital care for 60 days in a row. Or 100 days in a row for inpatient care at a skilled nursing facility. You must pay the Part A deductible for each benefit period. There is no limit to the number of benefit periods.

Part A Inpatient Copayments:

For Inpatient Hospital Stays

Days 0 – 60: $0 after you pay your Part A deductible

Days 61 – 90: $419 each day

Days 91 – 150: $838 each day while using your 60 lifetime reserve days

After day 150: You pay all costs

For Inpatient Skilled Nursing Facility Stays

Days 0 – 20: $0 after you pay your Part A deductible

Days 21 – 100: $209.50 each day

Part A premiums, deductibles, and copays can change each year. There may be penalties that add to these costs if you don’t enroll in Part A when you are first eligible to do so, typically when you turn 65.

How Much Does Medicare Part B Cost^1, 2?

Medicare Part B provides coverage for outpatient medical care separate from hospitalization. This includes doctor visits, preventive care, X-rays, medical tests and screenings, medical supplies, vaccinations, and other outpatient medical needs.

Part B helps cover:

• Services from doctors and other health care providers
• Outpatient care
• Home health care
• Durable medical equipment
• Some preventive services

Part B Monthly Premium – $185 for most people

The monthly premium for Part B is dependent on your income. Most people pay $185.00. If your annual income is greater than $106,000 you could pay up to $628.90 per month.

Part B Deductible – $257

This is the annual deductible for Part B. This is what you will pay before Original Medicare starts to pay.

Part B Costs for services (coinsurance) – 20%

You’ll usually pay 20% of the cost for each Medicare-covered service or item after you’ve paid your deductible.

Part B premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copays can change each year. There may be penalties that add to these costs if you don’t enroll in Part B when you are first eligible to do so, typically when you turn 65.

How Much Does Medicare Part C Cost^1, 2?

Part C is known as Medicare Advantage (MA). It's an alternative to Original Medicare Parts A and B that typically bundles several coverage types and must include all the coverage provided by Original Medicare. Most Part C plans include prescription drug (Part D) and routine dental, hearing, and vision coverage as well. That's why you’ll often hear the term "all in one plan" when referring to a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan. These plans are provided by private insurance companies like Anthem. You must sign up for Original Medicare Part A and Part B before enrolling in a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan.

Part C Monthly Premium – $17 projected 2025 average

Monthly premiums vary based on which plan you join. $17 is the projected average monthly premium in 2025 for all Medicare Advantage plans, which includes MA plans that provide prescription drug coverage and MA Special Needs Plans (SNPs)³. In addition to your Part C premium, you must keep paying your Part B monthly premium to stay in your plan.

Part C Deductible –

Deductibles vary based on the plan you join. Many plans have $0 medical deductibles for in-network services.

Part C Coinsurance and Copays –

Coinsurance and Copays vary based on the plan you join and the services you receive. Many plans have $0 copays for in-network doctor visits.

Part C premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copays can change each year.

How Much Does Medicare Part D Cost^1, 2?

In general, Original Medicare Parts A & B do not cover prescription drugs. That is where Part D comes in. Part D plans help pay for brand-name and generic drugs you need, including many recommended shots and vaccines. You join a Medicare Part D drug plan in addition to Original Medicare, or you get it by joining a Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage. Plans that offer Medicare drug coverage are run by private insurance companies like Anthem that follow rules set by Medicare. You must be signed up for Original Medicare Part A or Part B before you can enroll in a Part D plan.

Part D Monthly Premium – $46.50 projected 2025 average

Monthly premiums vary based on which plan you join. $46.50 is the projected average monthly premium in 2025 for all stand-alone Part D plans³.

Part D Deductible –

Deductibles vary based on the plan you join. There is $2,000 out-of-pocket cap on their annual prescription drug costs.

Part D Coinsurance and Copays –

Coinsurance and Copays vary based on the plan you join and the types of drugs you take. Many plans have $0 or low copays for generic drugs.

Part D premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copays can change each year. There may be penalties that add to these costs if you don’t enroll in a standalone Part D plan or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes Part D coverage when you are first eligible to do so, typically when you turn 65.

What If You Cannot Afford A Medicare Plan?

Many states offer Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) that can help pay for your healthcare costs. There is also Extra Help, a federal program which helps people with limited incomes pay for Medicare prescription drugs. Visit MSP or Extra Help to find out if you qualify.