What's in this guide
One of the first questions people ask me is the simplest one: "What is this actually going to cost me?" It's a fair question, and the honest answer is that Medicare has a few moving parts. The good news is the core numbers are set by the federal government and are the same whether you live in Sarasota, Tampa, or anywhere else in Florida. Let me walk you through them in plain English.
A quick note before the numbers: the amounts below are the official 2026 figures. Original Medicare (Parts A and B) costs the same nationwide. The pieces that do vary by where you live in Florida — and by your health and budget — are the optional plans people add on top, like a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy. That's the part where it helps to talk it through with someone, and where I come in.
Part A — hospital coverage
For most people, Part A is premium-free. If you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years (40 quarters), you don't pay a monthly premium for Part A at all.
Where Part A has a cost is if you're admitted to the hospital. In 2026, the Part A inpatient hospital deductible is $1,736 per benefit period. One thing that surprises people: that's not a once-a-year deductible like you might be used to. A "benefit period" starts the day you're admitted and ends after you've been out of the hospital (or skilled nursing) for 60 days straight — so in theory it can apply more than once in a year.
Part B — doctors and outpatient care
Part B covers doctor visits, outpatient care, lab work, and the like. It has two regular costs:
- Monthly premium: the standard 2026 amount is $202.90 per month. Most people have this deducted right from their Social Security check.
- Annual deductible: $283 in 2026. After you meet it, Part B generally pays 80% of approved costs and you're responsible for the other 20% — and importantly, Original Medicare has no cap on that 20%. (That's the gap a lot of people choose to cover with an Advantage or Supplement plan.)
Higher earners pay more for Part B. If your income is above a certain level, you pay an income-related surcharge called IRMAA on top of the standard premium. For 2026, those surcharges kick in above $109,000 for an individual (or $218,000 for a couple filing jointly), and the total Part B premium can climb to $689.90 per month at the highest income tier. The income they look at is from your tax return two years prior.
Part D — prescription drug coverage
Part D helps with prescriptions, and it's where 2026 brings real good news.
- Premium: varies by the drug plan you choose; there's no single national number.
- Deductible: plans can set their own, up to a 2026 maximum of $615.
- The out-of-pocket cap: this is the headline. In 2026, the most you'll pay out of pocket for covered prescriptions in a year is capped at $2,100. Once you hit that, you pay $0 for covered drugs the rest of the year. This cap is new — it started in 2025 at $2,000 — and it's a genuine relief for anyone on expensive medications.
As with Part B, higher earners pay a small income-related surcharge on Part D — roughly $14.50 to $91 a month in 2026, on top of the plan's own premium.
A simple snapshot for 2026
| Piece of Medicare | What it covers | 2026 cost |
|---|---|---|
| Part A | Hospital | $0 premium for most; $1,736 deductible per benefit period |
| Part B | Doctors / outpatient | $202.90/mo standard premium; $283 annual deductible; then you pay 20% |
| Part D | Prescriptions | Varies by plan; up to $615 deductible; $2,100 out-of-pocket cap |
| IRMAA (higher incomes) | Surcharge on B & D | Starts above $109,000 single / $218,000 joint |
Original Medicare leaves that 20% on Part B uncapped, with no annual ceiling on the 20% you owe. That single fact is why most Floridians add either a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medigap policy on top — to put a limit on what a bad health year can cost.
So what's the "real" number?
Here's the part the cost tables don't show: very few Floridians just pay these numbers and stop there. Most people add one of two things to handle that uncapped 20% and round out their coverage — either a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy plus a drug plan. Which one fits depends on your doctors, your prescriptions, how much you travel, and how you like to handle costs. Those plans' premiums vary across Florida, so there's no single right answer — and there's no extra cost to have someone help you compare.
Want to put real numbers to your options?
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Quick questions, quick answers
The standard Part B premium for 2026 is $202.90 per month, with an annual deductible of $283. Most people have the premium deducted directly from their Social Security check. Higher earners pay an income-related surcharge (IRMAA) on top of the standard amount.
For most people, yes. If you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years (40 quarters), you pay no monthly premium for Part A. Part A still has a hospital deductible of $1,736 per benefit period in 2026 if you're admitted.
In 2026, the most you pay out of pocket for covered prescription drugs in a year is capped at $2,100. Once you reach that amount, you pay $0 for covered drugs the rest of the year. The cap began in 2025 at $2,000.
For 2026, the income-related surcharge known as IRMAA begins above $109,000 for an individual or $218,000 for a couple filing jointly. At the highest income tier, the total Part B premium can reach $689.90 per month. Medicare looks at your tax return from two years prior.
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New to all this? Start with the turning-65 checklist, or visit the homepage →.