Medicare Rates for 2026
Medicare Rate Increases in 2026: Here’s What to Expect
Rate changes for 2026 won’t be officially announced until November 2025, with final adjustments based on that announcement. But we can already guess expected changes using projections and guidance from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
✅ 2026 Medicare Part B Premium Projections
- 2025 standard Part B premium: $185/month (a $10.30 increase over 2024) (Kiplinger, PlanWell Financial Planning, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services).
- 2026 projected standard premium: ~$186.90/month, up ~1.04% (Kiplinger).
- Part D plan changes:
- New out-of-pocket cap increases to $2,100 in 2026 (up $100 from 2025) (Kiplinger).
📊 2026 IRMAA Brackets Estimate
IRMAA surcharges for high-income beneficiaries (based on 2024 MAGI, filed in 2025):
| MAGI (Single / Joint) | Projected Part B + IRMAA Total | IRMAA Surcharge |
|---|---|---|
| ≤ $109,000 / ≤ $218,000 | $186.90 (no surcharge) | — |
| $109,001–137,000 / 218,001–274,000 | $261.70 | $74.80 |
| $137,001–171,000 / 274,001–342,000 | $373.80 | $186.90 |
| $171,001–205,000 / 342,001–410,000 | $485.90 | $299.00 |
| $205,001–500,000 / 410,001–750,000 | $598.10 | $411.20 |
| $635.50 | $448.60 |
(Source: Kiplinger and planwellfp projections) (Kiplinger, The Finance Buff)
Note: Part D surcharges are expected to rise more sharply—over 6% on average—for similar income brackets.
These brackets are anticipatory, not final—CMS will release the official tables in November 2025, after reviewing CPI-U inflation changes. (Kiplinger)
ℹ️ Timeline & What Influences These Numbers
- IRMAA based on 2024 income (filed April 2025)
- CMS updates brackets annually in November, based on CPI-U. Expected inflation bump ~1–3%.
- Final premiums and surcharges published late in the year, after which Social Security notifies you. (PlanWell Financial Planning)
📈 How 2026 Medigap (Supplement) Premiums Might Change
- Medigap prices in Maine will likely rise in 2026, reflecting broader trends like inflation, rising healthcare costs, and insurer adjustments.
- In 2025, lowest Medigap plan premiums in Maine were around $198.60/month. Expect similar or slightly higher base pricing into 2026.
- Premiums vary by plan type (A–N), your age, gender, and health status. Costs tend to increase yearly.
- Talking to a local agent in October or November of 2025 is smart to compare options when rate filings are public.
Why All This Matters
- Budgeting: Even modest increases, like Part B rising from $185 to ~$187, impact monthly costs.
- High‑income earners: IRMAA can add serious surcharges—sometimes hundreds per month—based on how your income compares to threshold cutoffs.
- Medigap choice: Premium spikes can occur—shopping around during Open Enrollment (Jan-Mar) can pay off.
🛡️ Planning Tips
- Watch for 2026 announcements in October and November 2025—CMS’s final rates and IRMAA tables will determine your actual 2026 costs.
- Assess your 2024 Income : avoiding even a $1 income increase into a higher bracket could save you thousands.
- Plan Medicare reviews in late September 2025, so you can compare new rates effective Jan 2026.
- Consult a local agent for personalized support—especially those endorsed by Plan Advisors in Maine.
✅ Want My Help?
My services are free to you—I’m paid by insurance carriers, so you pay nothing! Call me at 207‑370‑0143 or use the contact form to ask questions or arrange a consult. We’ll review your unique situation and shop Medigap plans together.
“My goal is to help people … I have found great joy in being able to offer my services to people who need my help.”
Sources:
- CMS, 2025 Part B premium and deductible facts (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Kiplinger, Kiplinger, PlanWell Financial Planning)
- CMS projections of Part B premium/surcharge increases (Kiplinger)
- Part D out‑of‑pocket cap increase (Kiplinger)
Medigap plans can help cover your 2021 Medicare costs.
Call 207-370-0143 to speak with a LOCAL licensed insurance agent.
Will My Medicare Supplement Insurance Premiums Go Up?
Medicare Supplement Insurance, or Medigap, provides coverage for certain Medicare Part A and Part B out-of-pocket expenses like deductibles, coinsurance and copayments.
The lowest cost Medigap plan premium in Maine currently is $198.60 per month.2
This cost figure is weighted, which means that some 2020 Medigap plan premiums in some areas may be higher.
Each type of Medigap plan offers a different combination of standardized benefits. Plans with fewer benefits may offer lower premiums.
Other factors such as age, gender, smoking status, health and where you live can also affect Medigap plan rates.
Medigap premiums can increase over time due to inflation and other factors, so you can typically expect Medigap plan premiums to be higher in 2021 than they are currently in 2020.
Compare 2020 Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan Costs
A licensed insurance agent can help you find Medigap plans that are available where you live. You can find out the types of benefits each available plan may offer, the insurance companies that sell them and the premium costs you can expect to pay.
You can request an online plan comparison for free, with no obligation to enroll.
A local Medicare Advisor will not only dig into the details for a plan best suited for you, but assist with any service related needs you encounter after your plan becomes effective. If priorities or prescriptions change from year to year, we will conduct policy reviews to determine whether another plan is worth considering.
There is no substitute for a qualified, local professional to navigate Medicare insurance with. Check out our map to find one of our 32 local agents endorsed by Plan Advisors.
Would you like my help?
If you would like help understanding your costs or need help finding a plan or if just want to ask a few questions, you can 207-370-0143 or use my simple form on the CONTACT page of this site to send an email message.
The best part about working with me is that it will not cost you anything to talk with me to discuss your options and review the plans that are available. I am an independent insurance agent and I am paid by the insurance companies (not you) in the form of a commission when you enroll in a plan.
You will not pay anything to meet with me and you will pay the same price for your insurance that everyone pays whether they had my help or not.