Overview
- The standard Part B premium rises $17.90 to $202.90 in 2026 (about 9.7%), trimming many retirees’ net Social Security COLA, with the hold harmless rule protecting those with very small checks.
- Part A’s inpatient hospital deductible increases to $1,736 (+$60) and the Part B deductible goes to $283 (+$26) starting January 1.
- For Part D, the initial deductible moves to $615 (+$25) and the maximum annual out-of-pocket is $2,100 in 2026.
- CMS says a payment policy change for skin-substitute wound-care products lowered what the Part B premium would have been by roughly $11.
- Open enrollment runs through December 7 as plan choices narrow for 2026, with Medicare Advantage offerings down about 10% to 3,373 and some counties in Vermont left without any MA plans.