Medicare Part B is the medical insurance portion of Original Medicare. Together with Part A, it forms the federal coverage signed into law in 1965. Part B covers medically necessary outpatient services and supplies: doctor's visits, preventive care, durable medical equipment, mental health services, and more.
Most beneficiaries pay a monthly premium for Part B, along with an annual deductible and 20% coinsurance on most approved services.
Part B covers a broad range of medically necessary services and supplies not covered by Part A. This includes doctor's visits, outpatient care, preventive services (like flu shots and certain cancer screenings), durable medical equipment (such as wheelchairs and oxygen tanks), and mental health services.
It also helps cover clinical research, ambulance services, and some home health services. One service unique to Part B is the annual wellness visit, where your physician assesses your physical and mental health.
Medicare Part B only covers prescriptions that are administered by your provider in their office or in the hospital, such as needed prescriptions for a surgery. Prescriptions that you get at the pharmacy are only covered by Medicare Part D.
Most beneficiaries pay a standard monthly Part B premium, plus an annual deductible and 20% coinsurance on most Medicare-approved services after the deductible is met. The standard premium is the base rate, and higher earners pay more through IRMAA (income-related monthly adjustment amount).
You can use our IRMAA calculator to see what impact your income could have on your Medicare costs.
If the premium isn't deducted from a Social Security check, Medicare bills quarterly, which can mean paying several months at once.
| Cost-sharing 2026 | Part B |
|---|---|
| Monthly premium | $202.90 (standard) |
| Annual deductible | $283 |
| Co-insurance & other costs | Typically 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for doctor visits, outpatient care, and durable medical equipment (DME) |
The Medicare Part B premium is $202.90 each month in 2026, but may be higher based on your income. Also, this amount does not include any potential penalty if you don't sign up for Medicare Part B when you're first eligible. The Part B Deductible, the amount you pay before Original Medicare starts to pay, is $283.
No, there will likely always be some cost-sharing with Medicare Part B. However, there are some ways to reduce the costs associated with Medicare Part B. Most Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans cover the 20% coinsurance that Part B does not cover. There are Medicare Savings Programs to pay your Medicare Part B premium if you qualify through lower income, and if you were eligible for Medicare before 2020, Medigap Plan C and F covers the Part B deductible. Some Medicare Advantage plans cover the Part B premium as part of their benefits, but typically you have a higher deductible and cost-sharing once you do get care.
Part B is available to people 65 and older and to younger people who qualify through certain disabilities, ESRD, or ALS. Unlike premium-free Part A, Part B enrollment is optional but comes with potential late-enrollment penalties if you delay without qualifying coverage.
If you're receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits as you approach 65, you may be enrolled automatically. Otherwise, you'll sign up through the Social Security Administration during your Initial Enrollment Period, or during a Special Enrollment Period if you delayed enrollment because you had employer coverage.
The Part B Late Enrollment Penalty is 10% of the standard premium multiplied by each full 12-month period you could have had Part B but didn't. The standard premium for 2026 is $202.90, so $20.29 will be appended to your premium for each year you delayed Part B enrollment. Since this is a lifelong penalty,it’s crucial to weigh these penalties against the savings of delaying Part B. Note that you are not accruing a penalty if you have creditable coverage through an employer. You can calculate your specific Part B enrollment penalty here.
For the 2026 calendar year, the standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B is $202.90. Higher-income beneficiaries pay more through Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts (IRMAA). Calculate your individual Part B premium for 2026 here.
After you pay your Medicare Part B premium and deductible, Medicare will start paying for your approved care — but it only covers 80% of the costs. Medicare Supplement (Medigap) will cover that remaining 20%, typically meaning you pay $0 out of pocket once your deductible is met.
While your Medicare Supplement plan also has a monthly premium, it can be simpler to plan for those predictable monthly expenses rather than be surprised by a doctor's bill later.
No, Medicare Part B doesn't cover routine dental care such as exams, cleanings, or extractions. However, Medicare Part B will cover a dental emergency — such as if a cavity becomes extreme enough to warrant outpatient or inpatient hospital care.
Yes, Medicare Part B covers ambulance transportation to the hospital when deemed medically necessary. Note that ambulances must take you to the closest appropriate hospital.
No, Medicare Part B does not classify hearing aids as covered durable medical equipment. While a prescribed diagnostic exam can be covered under Part B, the hearing aids themselves are not. Learn more about Medicare coverage of hearing care here.
Yes, Medicare Part B covers most of the costs of a medically necessary inpatient or outpatient surgery. If you know you need a surgery, it would make sense to be enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B. While Part A covers your hospital stay — including the bed, supplies, and meals — Part B covers the actual surgery. Learn more about Medicare coverage for surgery here.
Medicare Part A and Part B were designed to cover the basic care needs of seniors through the end of their lives. If you need care such as seeing specialists, dental, vision, or hearing, it may make sense to enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan and other insurance policies to cover the gaps left by Part A and Part B.
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PLEASE NOTE: Medicare Supplement insurance is available to those age 65 and older enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B and, in some states, to those under age 65 eligible for Medicare due to disability or End-Stage Renal disease. The purpose of this communication is the solicitation of insurance. Contact will be made by an insurance agent/producer or insurance company. Medicare Supplement insurance plans are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.
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