Plan for Medicare costs with better information.
Costs depend on your coverage, the services you use, and other circumstances. Start with a checklist and verify amounts with Medicare and your plan.
Medicare cost planning checklist
The numerical estimator is unavailable. This checklist does not calculate a premium, deductible, or total cost. Use current official rates and your own plan documents to compare your options.
- Choose your coverage path. Compare Original Medicare (Parts A and B), with any separate drug plan or Medigap policy, against Medicare Advantage (Part C). Medigap supplements Original Medicare; it does not pay the cost sharing of an Advantage plan.
- Check premiums. Confirm whether you owe a Part A premium and check your Part B notice. Include any applicable plan premium and late-enrollment penalty. Part B and Part D can each have an income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA); the amount depends on the applicable year, income, and filing status.
- Check cost sharing. Use your expected covered services, benefit periods, and plan documents to identify deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. Do not assume you will incur a full deductible if you do not use enough applicable services.
- Compare prescriptions and providers. Check your medications, pharmacies, provider network, and the plan’s current-year costs. Separate plan premiums and out-of-pocket limits can change.
Medicare.gov: current Medicare costs · Compare Medicare plans
CMS 2025 premiums and deductibles (historical figures, not current rates)
The four parts of Medicare
Helps cover inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and some home health care.
Helps cover doctor services, outpatient care, preventive services, and durable medical equipment.
An alternative to Original Medicare offered by Medicare-approved private plans. Plans provide Part A and Part B benefits and usually include Part D.
Helps cover prescription drugs through Medicare-approved private plans. Costs and covered drugs vary by plan.
Medigap is separate supplemental insurance that can help pay some Original Medicare costs; it is not Part C. Learn how the parts fit together.
Source: Medicare.gov: Parts of Medicare.
Find current Medicare costs
Rates can change each year and plan costs vary. Use Medicare’s official cost page for current information.
View Medicare.gov costs →Medicare guides
Browse all guides →How income-related adjustments can affect Part B and Part D, and where to check your determination.
Compare coverage, provider access, and out-of-pocket costs.
Compare selected benefits and learn where to find the full plan chart.
Understand enrollment periods and where to check your coverage start date.
Read about the checklist’s limitations and sources in our methodology.