Definition. The amount you must pay out of pocket for covered services or drugs before Medicare or your plan begins to pay. Each part of Medicare has its own deductible.
What it means
- Part A: $1,736 per benefit period in 2026. It's per benefit period, not per year, so you can owe it more than once in a year.
- Part B: $283 once a year in 2026. After that you usually pay 20% coinsurance.
- Part D: each plan sets its own deductible, up to $615 in 2026; some plans have a lower one or none.
- Medicare Advantage: each plan sets its own deductibles for medical care and drugs.
- Medigap: most plan letters pay the Part A deductible. Plans K and L pay part of it, and the high-deductible Plan G and Plan F start paying only after you meet a yearly deductible ($2,950 in 2026).
Sources
- CMS — 2026 Medicare Parts A & B premiums and deductibles
- Medicare.gov — Medicare costs
- Medicare.gov — Costs in the coverage phases of Part D
- Medicare.gov — Choosing a Medigap policy (PDF)
Frequently asked questions
Is the Part A deductible per year or per stay?
Per benefit period. A benefit period starts when you're admitted as an inpatient and ends after 60 days in a row with no inpatient or skilled nursing care, so you can pay it more than once a year.
Medicare in your Oregon county
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