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Medicare changes for 2026: What you need to know

Each year Medicare updates its premiums, deductibles, and cost-sharing amounts. Here's a summary of what's changing for 2026, based on official figures from Medicare.gov.

Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance). Most people continue to pay $0 for Part A because they or a spouse paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years. If you have to buy Part A, you'll pay either $311 or $565 per month depending on your work history. The inpatient hospital deductible is $1,736 for each benefit period. Hospital coinsurance is $434 per day for days 61–90 and $868 per day for days 91–150 (lifetime reserve days). For skilled nursing facility stays, days 21–100 cost $217 per day.

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance). The standard Part B premium is $202.90 per month, though higher earners may pay more. The annual Part B deductible is $283. After you meet the deductible, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for covered services.

Part C, Part D, and Medigap. Medicare Advantage (Part C), Part D drug plan, and Medigap costs vary by plan, location, and other factors, and can change each year. Our agents can help you compare the options available in your area.

Help with costs — Extra Help. If you have limited income and resources, the Extra Help program can significantly lower your prescription drug costs. In 2026, those who qualify pay a $0 premium and $0 deductible, no more than $5.10 for each generic drug and $12.65 for each brand-name drug, and $0 once total drug costs reach $2,100.

"We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options."

Have questions about how these 2026 changes affect you? Give us a call at 888-777-7986 — our agents are happy to help.

Medicare Resources

Posted On Mon July 20th 2026

Medicare Enrollment Periods Explained: Key 2026 Dates You Shouldn't Miss

Understanding when you can enroll in Medicare, and when you can make changes, is one of the most important parts of managing your coverage. Missing a window can mean waiting months for another opportunity, and in some cases paying a lifelong late penalty. Here is a plain-language guide to the main Medicare enrollment periods for 2026.

Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). When you first become eligible for Medicare, you get a seven-month window to sign up. It begins three months before the month you turn 65, includes your birthday month, and continues for three months afterward. For most people, enrolling during this period helps avoid delays and late penalties.

The Fall Open Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7). Each fall, anyone with Medicare can review and change their coverage. During this window you can switch between Original Medicare and a Medicare Advantage plan, change Medicare Advantage plans, or join, drop, or switch a Part D prescription drug plan. Any changes you make take effect January 1 of the following year. Because plans can adjust their costs and covered drugs annually, this is a good time to review your options even if you are satisfied with your current coverage.

The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31). If you are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan at the start of the year, you have one opportunity during this window to switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare (and join a Part D plan if needed).

Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs). Certain life events, such as moving, losing other coverage, or qualifying for assistance programs, can open a Special Enrollment Period, generally lasting about two months from the event. These periods let you make changes outside the standard windows.

Keeping these dates in mind can help you avoid gaps in coverage and unnecessary penalties. If you're unsure which period applies to your situation, it's worth reviewing your options well before a deadline arrives.

Source: Medicare.gov

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.

Medicare Resources

Posted On Mon July 20th 2026

Understanding the Four Parts of Medicare (A, B, C, and D) in 2026

Medicare is organized into four parts, each covering a different type of care. Knowing what each part does, and what it costs in 2026, can make it much easier to plan for your health coverage.

Part A (Hospital Insurance). Part A helps cover inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and some home health care. Most people pay no monthly premium because they or a spouse paid Medicare taxes while working. In 2026, the inpatient hospital deductible is $1,736 per benefit period. If you don't qualify for premium-free Part A, you can buy it for up to $565 per month.

Part B (Medical Insurance). Part B covers doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, and durable medical equipment. In 2026, the standard monthly premium is $202.90, and the annual deductible is $283. After you meet the deductible, you typically pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for most services. People with higher incomes may pay more for Part B.

Part C (Medicare Advantage). Part C plans are offered by private companies approved by Medicare and bundle Part A and Part B coverage together, often with prescription drug coverage and extras. Costs and benefits vary by plan and location. If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, you still need to keep paying your Part B premium. These plans include a yearly limit on out-of-pocket costs, which Original Medicare does not have.

Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage). Part D helps pay for prescription medications and is offered through private plans. In 2026, the annual deductible can be no more than $615, though some plans charge less. Once you reach $2,100 in out-of-pocket drug costs for the year, you pay nothing more for covered drugs for the rest of the year. If you go without creditable drug coverage after you're first eligible, you may owe a late enrollment penalty.

Together, these four parts give you flexibility in how you build your Medicare coverage. Choosing the right combination depends on your health needs, budget, and the plans available where you live.

Source: Medicare.gov

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.

Medicare Resources

Posted On Mon July 20th 2026

Medicare and Working Past 65: What You Need to Know

More people are working past age 65 than ever before, and that raises an important question: what happens with Medicare if you're still employed? The answer depends largely on the size of your employer and the coverage you already have.

If you have coverage through a larger employer. If you or your spouse are still working and you have health insurance through an employer with 20 or more employees, you may be able to delay enrolling in Part B without a late penalty. In this situation, your employer coverage generally pays first and Medicare pays second. Many people in this position still enroll in premium-free Part A because it usually has no cost.

If you work for a smaller employer. If your employer has fewer than 20 employees, Medicare typically pays first. In that case, it's usually important to enroll in Part B when you're first eligible, because delaying could leave gaps in your coverage. Check with your employer's benefits administrator to understand how your plan works with Medicare.

Avoiding the Part B late penalty. If you delay Part B because you have qualifying employer coverage, you'll generally get a Special Enrollment Period to sign up when that coverage ends, usually up to eight months, without a late penalty. If you don't have qualifying coverage and delay, you may face a premium penalty that lasts for as long as you have Part B.

A note on Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Once you enroll in any part of Medicare, you can no longer contribute to an HSA. If you're contributing to an HSA and plan to keep doing so, this is an important factor to weigh before enrolling.

Prescription drug coverage. If your employer coverage includes creditable prescription drug coverage, you can usually delay Part D without penalty. Keep the notice your employer sends about whether your drug coverage is creditable, since you may need it later.

Deciding when to enroll while still working can be one of the trickier parts of Medicare. Reviewing your specific employer coverage before you turn 65 can help you avoid penalties and coverage gaps.

Source: Medicare.gov

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.

Medicare Resources

Posted On Mon July 20th 2026

How to Lower Your Medicare Drug Costs: Extra Help and Savings Programs in 2026

Prescription drugs are one of the biggest out-of-pocket costs for people with Medicare. If you have a limited income and limited savings, several government programs can dramatically lower — or even eliminate — what you pay for your medications and your Medicare premiums in 2026. This guide explains the two main types of help: the Part D Low-Income Subsidy (Extra Help) and the four Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs), and how the rules differ in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, and Georgia.

The Part D Low-Income Subsidy (“Extra Help”)

Extra Help is a federal program run by the Social Security Administration that lowers the cost of Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. It can reduce or eliminate your Part D premium and deductible and cap what you pay at the pharmacy counter. In 2026, people who qualify pay no more than $12.65 for each covered drug.

How it works: Your eligibility is based on your income and resources (savings, investments, and other assets — your home and car generally do not count). You can apply at any time, before or after you enroll in a Part D plan. Many people who qualify for a Medicare Savings Program are automatically enrolled in Extra Help, so it is worth applying for both.

2026 Federal LIS / Extra Help Income & Resource Limits

LIS income limit = 150% FPL + $20/mo disregard; same nationwide (higher in AK/HI). Assets exclude home, one vehicle, and $1,500/person burial allowance.

Apply or learn more:

• Apply online with Social Security: ssa.gov/medicare/part-d-extra-help
• Extra Help overview on Medicare.gov: medicare.gov/basics/costs/help/drug-costs
• Call Social Security: 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778)

Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs)

Medicare Savings Programs are run by each state’s Medicaid agency and help pay your Medicare Part A and/or Part B premiums, and sometimes your deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. If you qualify for an MSP, you also automatically get Extra Help for your drugs. There are four programs, each with different income limits:

• Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB): Helps pay Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments.
• Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB): Helps pay the Part B premium.
• Qualifying Individual (QI): Helps pay the Part B premium (you must reapply each year; approved first-come, first-served).
• Qualified Disabled & Working Individual (QDWI): Helps pay the Part A premium for certain working people with disabilities.

State-by-State 2026 MSP Income & Asset Limits: AL, FL, MS & GA

The federal government sets the baseline, but each state administers its own Medicare Savings Programs and some raise the income limits or waive the asset test. Each state’s 2026 monthly limits are shown separately below.

No asset test in AL. Standard $20 income disregard included.

Federal asset limits (single / couple). $20 income disregard included.

No asset test in MS. Limits higher than federal — MS uses a $50 income disregard.

Federal asset limits (single / couple). $20 income disregard included.

All programs: Enrollees in QMB, SLMB, or QI automatically qualify for full Part D Extra Help (LIS). QI is first-come, first-served and cannot be combined with full Medicaid. If only one spouse is on Medicare, the applying spouse uses the single limit but combined income must stay under the couple limit (AL rule; similar elsewhere). QMB = Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (≤100% FPL) • SLMB = Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (100–120% FPL) • QI = Qualifying Individual (120–135% FPL).

Sources: NCOA MSP Eligibility & Coverage chart (Mar 2026); NCOA Part D LIS chart (Feb 2026); CMS CY2026 LIS Resource Limits memo (Oct 2025); SSA POMS HI 00815.023 (Feb 2026); Alabama Medicaid Form 207 (2026); Mississippi Division of Medicaid; Florida DCF; Georgia Medicaid. Verify with the state Medicaid agency before enrolling — limits update each spring with the new FPL.

How to Take Action

• Apply for Extra Help with Social Security at ssa.gov/medicare/part-d-extra-help or call 1-800-772-1213.
• Apply for a Medicare Savings Program through your state Medicaid agency (see the chart above).
• Even if you think you earn too much, apply anyway — your state may not count all of your income or resources.
• Free personalized help: Contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at shiphelp.org or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

This article is for general educational purposes and reflects 2026 federal figures. Program rules and limits are updated regularly — verify current amounts and eligibility with the official sources linked above before applying.

Medicare Resources

Posted On Mon July 20th 2026