Quick Links: Part B Covers – Part B Costs – Part B Enrollment – Part B Eligibility – Part B Premiums
Last updated: October 8, 2026
Part B is the medical insurance portion of Original Medicare.
It helps cover medically necessary care and many preventive services. It also covers doctors' services during a hospital stay, even though the inpatient hospital facility costs generally fall under Part A.
What does Part B cover?
- Doctor and other health professional services, outpatient care, and qualifying diagnostic tests.
- Preventive services, including eligible screenings, certain vaccines, and yearly Wellness visits.
- Durable medical equipment, such as medically necessary walkers or wheelchairs.
- Covered outpatient mental health care, therapy, ambulance services, and certain home health services.
- Certain prescription drugs, including some drugs administered in a medical office. Most prescriptions taken at home require separate drug coverage.
Coverage depends on the service and Medicare's requirements. Most covered preventive services cost you nothing when your provider accepts assignment and all coverage conditions are met. A yearly Wellness visit is not a routine physical exam.
Telehealth: Through December 31, 2027, Medicare allows covered telehealth services from any location in the United States, including your home. The Part B deductible and usual cost sharing generally apply. Ask your provider whether your visit qualifies.
Part B costs for 2027
2027 cost update: As of October 8, 2026, final 2027 Part B premium and deductible amounts were not available in the official sources reviewed. See Medicare's latest costs and check the year shown.
After the annual deductible, you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for covered services when your provider accepts assignment. Some services have different payment rules. Original Medicare has no annual limit on your out-of-pocket Part A and Part B costs.
Part B premiums
Part B has a monthly premium. Higher-income beneficiaries may pay an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA). Social Security generally uses tax information from two years earlier. If a qualifying life-changing event reduces your income, you can ask Social Security to reconsider your IRMAA. Medicare Savings Programs may help eligible people pay Medicare costs.
Who is eligible?
Medicare generally covers people age 65 and older and certain younger people with disabilities, ESRD, or ALS. Other eligibility requirements apply, including updated citizenship, nationality, and immigration status requirements described on page 9 of the 2027 handbook. Confirm your situation with Social Security.
When should you sign up?
Your first enrollment opportunity generally lasts seven months around your 65th birthday. You may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period if you have group health coverage based on current employment. COBRA and retiree coverage do not extend the usual eight-month employment-based Part B enrollment window. Check with Social Security and your employer before delaying Part B.
If you need the General Enrollment Period, it runs January 1-March 31, and coverage starts the month after you sign up. A late enrollment penalty may apply. This is different from fall Medicare Open Enrollment.
Medigap has a separate enrollment window. Your federal six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period starts the first month you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. During that window, insurers cannot deny an available Medigap policy or charge more because of your health. Other federal or state protections may apply outside this window.
Read Medicare & You 2027, pages 9, 15-23, 32-58, and 79-82. Contact our office to review your coverage options.
Medicare Part B consists of medical insurance that is part of Medicare and covers medical services and supplies. These are medically important in treating your health condition. Part B includes outpatient care, ambulance services, preventive services, and durable medical equipment. It also covers part-time home care and rehabilitative services, including physical therapy.
Medicare Part B covers:
- Medically necessary services: Services or supplies that are needed to diagnose or treat your medical condition and that meet accepted standards of medical practice.
- Preventive services: Health care to prevent illness (like the flu) or detect it at an early stage, when treatment is most likely to work best.
You pay nothing for most preventive services if you get the services from a health care provider who accepts assignment.
Part B Medicare services cover the following:
- Clinical research
- Limited outpatient prescription drugs
- Mental health
- Inpatient
- Outpatient
- Partial hospitalization
- Ambulance services
- Durable medical equipment (DME)
Part B Medicare insurance coverage is based on the following factors:
- Your state laws
- Federal laws
- National coverage decisions
- Local coverage decisions made by companies
Medicare Part B Costs
U.S. citizens can automatically get Medicare Part B insurance, and others need to sign up for Part B Medicare supplement. Every person who gets enrolled in Part B Medicare pays a premium each month. It also automatically deducted from their benefit payment each month if they get benefits from the following:
- Social security
- Railroad retirement board
- Personnel management office
And If you are not getting these benefits, you pay through a bill every month.
People usually pay a standard premium amount. If your gross income is above a certain amount, you also pay an income-related monthly amount. Medicare also uses a modified adjusted gross income reported for Part B MadIcare on their tax return from 2 years ago. This tax return information is the most recent tax return provided to social security administration by the IRS.
A standard Part B Medicare premium amount in 2020 is $144.60.
Medicare Part B Enrollment
If you’re receiving retirement benefits before the age of 65 or qualify Medicare insurance because of a disability at an early age you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B as soon as you become eligible.
If you do not enroll during your initial enrollment period and also not qualify in the special enrollment period. In that case, you have the option to sign up during the annual enrollment period, which starts from 1st January to 31st March of each year and coverage starting from 1st July.
If you’re not automatically enrolled, you can also apply directly for Medicare supplement Insurance part B via the Social Security website either in person or by calling at 1-800-772-1213 on working days.
Remember, when you reach the age of 65 and have Medicare Part B, your six-month Medicare open enrollment period begins its time to purchase a Medicare Part B Supplemental plan. You’ll get a guaranteed-issue right to buy any Medicare plan without paying a higher premium or medical underwriting once you get enrolled in Medicare Part B, not to miss this initial guaranteed-issue enrollment period for Medigap supplement insurance.
Medicare Part B Eligibility
Anyone eligible for Medicare Part A is qualified for Medicare Part B by enrolling and paying a standard monthly premium. And if you are not able for Medicare Part A, you can also qualify for Medicare Part B by meeting the following criteria:
- You reached ta the age of 65 years or older.
- You are a U.S. citizen.
- You are a permanent resident residing in the U.S. for at last five continuous years.
You may also qualify for automatic Medicare Part B enrollment if you are a disabled person. Or if you are under 65 years of age and getting social security benefits, you will automatically get enrolled in Medicare Part B after 24 months of disability benefits. You will also get Medicare Part B insurance enrollment before 65 if you experience last-stage renal disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Medicare Part B Premiums
Your Medicare Part B premiums can change from year to year, and cost can vary based on your situation. For many people, it is deducted automatically from their social security benefits.
The monthly Part B premium is $148.50 in 2021.
But if your income exceeds a certain amount, your premium may also increase than the standard premium, as there are different premiums for different income levels in Medicare part B.
If you don’t get social security or rail board benefits, you’ll get a bill to pay your premiums:
- Part B for medical insurance
- Part A for hospital insurance