Costs
How much will Medicare cost in 2027? Projected Part A and B premiums and costs
It's one of the first questions families ask: what will Medicare cost my parent? The answer has several parts, because Medicare isn't one bill. Below are the amounts CMS sets each year for Original Medicare, Parts A and B: the current 2026 amounts, and the 2027 projection from the Medicare Trustees Report. CMS announces the final 2027 amounts in the fall of 2026. Private plans (Medicare Advantage, drug plans, Medigap) have their own prices, which differ by county.
Part A: hospital
About 99% of people pay no monthly Part A premium. That takes at least 40 quarters of U.S. work, their own or a spouse's, with Medicare taxes paid. With 30 to 39 quarters the 2026 premium is $311 a month; with fewer than 30, it's $565 a month. CMS sets these amounts. In 2027 they are projected at about $330 and $600 a month per the Medicare Trustees Report projection.
No premium doesn't mean no costs. A hospital stay has charges CMS sets each year. For each we show the 2026 amount and the 2027 projection:
- Deductible
- In 2026, $1,736 for each benefit period, which is how Medicare counts a hospital stay. In 2027, about $1,788 per the Medicare Trustees Report projection.
- Hospital days 61 to 90
- $434 a day in 2026. In 2027, about $447 per the Medicare Trustees Report projection.
- Lifetime reserve days
- $868 a day in 2026. In 2027, about $894 per the Medicare Trustees Report projection.
- Skilled nursing facility, days 21 to 100
- $217 a day in 2026. In 2027, about $223.50 per the Medicare Trustees Report projection.
Part B: doctors and outpatient care
The standard Part B premium in 2026 is $202.90 a month. The yearly deductible in 2026 is $283. In 2027 the premium is projected at about $209.50 a month and the deductible at $292, per the Medicare Trustees Report projection. After that, your parent usually pays 20% of the cost of Part B services, such as doctor visits.
The premium is higher at higher incomes; the extra amount is called IRMAA. In 2026 it starts above $109,000 a year for a single person and $218,000 for a married couple filing jointly. The top premium in 2026 is $689.90 a month. CMS publishes the tiers. The 2027 income thresholds haven't been announced yet. The top premium in 2027 is projected at about $712.10 a month per the Medicare Trustees Report projection ($209.50 plus the top adjustment of $502.60).
What has no single price
Private insurance companies offer Medicare Advantage (Part C), drug plans (Part D) and Medigap policies. Each plan has its own premium and rules, and what's available depends on the county, so we don't list their prices here. One federal number: the yearly limit on Part D drug costs. It is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. CMS announced the 2027 limit on April 6, 2026.
When costs are too high
People with lower incomes may get help paying premiums and deductibles. In Illinois, see Medicare Savings Program in Illinois. Signing up late can raise premiums for good: see Medicare late enrollment penalties.
Sources: 2026 Part A and B amounts from CMS, "2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles", November 14, 2025. The 2027 projections are from the 2026 Medicare Trustees Report (June 9, 2026, Tables V.E1–V.E3). They are estimates, not final amounts: CMS usually announces the final 2027 Part A and B amounts in the fall, and they may differ from the projection. We'll update this guide then. The 2027 Part D limit is from the CMS CY 2027 Rate Announcement of April 6, 2026. We can work out what Medicare will cost in your parent's situation, in Polish for them and English for you, with no obligation to enroll. Book a consultation.