Turning 65 and starting Medicare? Your 7-month enrollment window starts now.
Medicarelism is a free, independent resource built by a licensed Medicare agent. Take the 2-minute Readiness Check and we'll send you a plan built around your situation — plus the official 2026 Medicare & You handbook.
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Medicare & You 2026
The official CMS handbook, sent to your inbox instantly.
Medicare Readiness Assessment
Your Initial Enrollment Period, mapped out
Seven months, centered on your birthday month. Miss it, and late penalties can follow you for life. Here's exactly where you stand.
Working past 65 with employer coverage? Your timeline may be different. The Readiness Check accounts for that — it's the first question we ask.
What Is Medicare Part B? 2026 Costs & Coverage
Medicare Part B is the piece of Original Medicare that trips people up most. Here's what it actually covers, what it costs this year, and when you need to sign up.
What Medicare Part B covers
Medicare Part B is the outpatient and medical insurance half of Original Medicare — Part A covers hospital stays, Part B covers everything else you'd normally see a doctor for. That includes:
- Doctor visits and outpatient specialist care
- Preventive care — screenings, vaccines, annual wellness visits
- Durable medical equipment, like walkers and wheelchairs
- Ambulance services and outpatient mental health care
After you meet your annual deductible, Original Medicare typically pays 80% of the Medicare-approved amount for these services — you're responsible for the remaining 20% coinsurance, unless you have supplemental coverage like a Medigap policy.
2026 Medicare Part B costs
| Item | 2026 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Standard monthly premium | $202.90 | $185.00 |
| Annual deductible | $283 | $257 |
| Coinsurance (after deductible) | 20% | 20% |
| Highest income-adjusted premium (IRMAA) | up to $689.90/mo | — |
Source: CMS 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles fact sheet, released November 2025.
Most people pay the standard premium, deducted directly from Social Security. Individuals with a reported income above $109,000 (or $218,000 filing jointly) pay an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, or IRMAA, on top of the standard premium.
Medicare Part B: frequently asked questions
What is Medicare Part B?
Medicare Part B is the part of Original Medicare that covers outpatient and medical services, such as doctor visits, outpatient procedures, preventive screenings, and durable medical equipment. It works alongside Medicare Part A, which covers hospital stays.
How much does Medicare Part B cost in 2026?
The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B in 2026 is $202.90, up from $185.00 in 2025. The annual deductible is $283. Beneficiaries with higher incomes pay an additional Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA), which can raise the total monthly premium to between $284.10 and $689.90 depending on income.
What does Medicare Part B cover?
Medicare Part B generally covers medically necessary services, such as doctor visits, outpatient care, ambulance services, durable medical equipment, and mental health services, as well as preventive services like screenings, vaccines, and annual wellness visits. After you meet your deductible, Medicare typically pays 80% of the Medicare-approved amount, and you are responsible for the remaining 20% coinsurance unless you have supplemental coverage.
When do I need to enroll in Medicare Part B?
Most people should enroll during their 7-month Initial Enrollment Period, which starts 3 months before the month they turn 65 and ends 3 months after. If you delay enrollment without qualifying employer coverage, you may face a late enrollment penalty added to your premium for as long as you have Part B.
Is Medicare Part B mandatory?
No, but most people who are not still covered by an employer group health plan choose to enroll because Part B covers outpatient and medical care that Part A does not. Declining Part B without other qualifying coverage typically triggers a lifetime late enrollment penalty if you sign up later.
Want to know how Medicare Part B fits your specific situation — your income, your doctors, your medications?
Take the Free Readiness CheckTwo free resources, built for right now
No pressure, no sales pitch to sit through — just the information you need to make your own call.
Medicare Readiness Assessment
Five quick questions about your coverage, prescriptions, doctors, and budget. You'll get a personalized read on which path — Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, or a Medigap plan — tends to fit people in your situation.
- Takes about 2 minutes, 5 questions
- Personalized report emailed to you
- Nobody calls you unless you ask
The Official Medicare & You 2026 Handbook
The government's own handbook, in full — every rule, deadline, and definition. We'll also flag the six pages first-time enrollees actually need to read first, so it doesn't sit unopened.
Get the HandbookWhat happens after you submit
Three steps. You stay in control of what happens after that.
Answer 5 quick questions
About your current coverage, prescriptions, preferred doctors, and budget. Takes about two minutes.
Get your report and the handbook
Both land in your inbox within minutes — your personalized readiness report and the full Medicare & You 2026 PDF.
Talk it through, if you want to
Book a free 20-minute call with a licensed agent, or call (855) 212-3808 directly. Entirely optional.
When are you turning 65 — or did you already?
This tells us where you sit in your enrollment window.
Are you still working?
Employer coverage can change your timeline and your options.
Do you take regular prescription medications?
This shapes whether drug coverage should drive your decision.
Do you have doctors or specialists you want to keep seeing?
Some plans limit you to a network; others don't.
What matters more to you day to day?
There's usually a trade-off between the two.
Where should we send your results?
Your Readiness Report and the Medicare & You 2026 handbook go here.
Here's your snapshot
We've also opened an email so your results reach a licensed agent directly.