First, lets make sure we are clear there are two different costs. There is the monthly cost (the “premium”) and the out of pocket costs (what you pay at the doctor or hospital). The first part of this article is focused on the monthly costs (i.e. the premiums).
Keep in mind lower income people can pay less and higher income people pay more. We’ll get into details on that later on, but for most people the monthly bill is going to start at 6.50 which is the Part B premium. After that your monthly cost will depend on your choices. Traditional Medicare is also typically accompanied by a Part D plan and a Medicare Supplement (aka Medi-gap).
If you go with a Medicare Advantage plan many of those plans (not all, but many) have a
First, lets make sure we are clear there are two different costs. There is the monthly cost (the “premium”) and the out of pocket costs (what you pay at the doctor or hospital). The first part of this article is focused on the monthly costs (i.e. the premiums).
Keep in mind lower income people can pay less and higher income people pay more. We’ll get into details on that later on, but for most people the monthly bill is going to start at $206.50 which is the Part B premium. After that your monthly cost will depend on your choices. Traditional Medicare is also typically accompanied by a Part D plan and a Medicare Supplement (aka Medi-gap).
If you go with a Medicare Advantage plan many of those plans (not all, but many) have a $0 premium. That means at the low end most people have to pay at least $206.50.
At the high end a G Medicare Supplement can be $200 a month. That is the most expensive Medicare Supplement. At the lower end the HDG supplement can be around $50 a month. If you go with traditional Medicare and a supplement you also need a drug plan (Part D). Drug plans in 2026 vary in cost from under $5 a month to over $100 a month.
Part D plans have their own deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. Most of my clients are on the two least expensive plans available. It really depends on which prescriptions you are on as to what the best plan for you is.
Let’s add all that up. Keep in mind that the part B premium and the supplemental premium typically go up every single year.
Example 1: An Advantage Plan with a $0 premim
Part B premium: $206.50
$0 premium Advantage Plan: $ 0.00
Monthly Total: $206.50
Example 2: Traditional Medicare with a “G” Medicare Supplement
Part B premium: $206.50
Part D premium: $ 5.00 (often under $5)
G Supplement: $175.00 (some are more, some are less)
Dental: $ 39.00 (typical pricing)
Monthly Total: $425.50
Example 3: Traditional Medicare with a “HDG” supplement
Part B premium: $206.50
Part D premium: $ 5.00 (often under $5)
HDG Supplement: $ 50.00 (some are more, some are less)
Dental: $ 39.00 (typical pricing)
Monthly Total: $300.50
As you can see there is a wide variety of options when you get to Medicare.
premium. That means at the low end most people have to pay at least 6.50.At the high end a G Medicare Supplement can be 0 a month. That is the most expensive Medicare Supplement. At the lower end the HDG supplement can be around a month. If you go with traditional Medicare and a supplement you also need a drug plan (Part D). Drug plans in 2026 vary in cost from under a month to over 0 a month.
Part D plans have their own deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. Most of my clients are on the two least expensive plans available. It really depends on which prescriptions you are on as to what the best plan for you is.
Let’s add all that up. Keep in mind that the part B premium and the supplemental premium typically go up every single year.
Example 1: An Advantage Plan with a
First, lets make sure we are clear there are two different costs. There is the monthly cost (the “premium”) and the out of pocket costs (what you pay at the doctor or hospital). The first part of this article is focused on the monthly costs (i.e. the premiums).
Keep in mind lower income people can pay less and higher income people pay more. We’ll get into details on that later on, but for most people the monthly bill is going to start at $206.50 which is the Part B premium. After that your monthly cost will depend on your choices. Traditional Medicare is also typically accompanied by a Part D plan and a Medicare Supplement (aka Medi-gap).
If you go with a Medicare Advantage plan many of those plans (not all, but many) have a $0 premium. That means at the low end most people have to pay at least $206.50.
At the high end a G Medicare Supplement can be $200 a month. That is the most expensive Medicare Supplement. At the lower end the HDG supplement can be around $50 a month. If you go with traditional Medicare and a supplement you also need a drug plan (Part D). Drug plans in 2026 vary in cost from under $5 a month to over $100 a month.
Part D plans have their own deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. Most of my clients are on the two least expensive plans available. It really depends on which prescriptions you are on as to what the best plan for you is.
Let’s add all that up. Keep in mind that the part B premium and the supplemental premium typically go up every single year.
Example 1: An Advantage Plan with a $0 premim
Part B premium: $206.50
$0 premium Advantage Plan: $ 0.00
Monthly Total: $206.50
Example 2: Traditional Medicare with a “G” Medicare Supplement
Part B premium: $206.50
Part D premium: $ 5.00 (often under $5)
G Supplement: $175.00 (some are more, some are less)
Dental: $ 39.00 (typical pricing)
Monthly Total: $425.50
Example 3: Traditional Medicare with a “HDG” supplement
Part B premium: $206.50
Part D premium: $ 5.00 (often under $5)
HDG Supplement: $ 50.00 (some are more, some are less)
Dental: $ 39.00 (typical pricing)
Monthly Total: $300.50
As you can see there is a wide variety of options when you get to Medicare.
premimPart B premium: 6.50
First, lets make sure we are clear there are two different costs. There is the monthly cost (the “premium”) and the out of pocket costs (what you pay at the doctor or hospital). The first part of this article is focused on the monthly costs (i.e. the premiums).
Keep in mind lower income people can pay less and higher income people pay more. We’ll get into details on that later on, but for most people the monthly bill is going to start at $206.50 which is the Part B premium. After that your monthly cost will depend on your choices. Traditional Medicare is also typically accompanied by a Part D plan and a Medicare Supplement (aka Medi-gap).
If you go with a Medicare Advantage plan many of those plans (not all, but many) have a $0 premium. That means at the low end most people have to pay at least $206.50.
At the high end a G Medicare Supplement can be $200 a month. That is the most expensive Medicare Supplement. At the lower end the HDG supplement can be around $50 a month. If you go with traditional Medicare and a supplement you also need a drug plan (Part D). Drug plans in 2026 vary in cost from under $5 a month to over $100 a month.
Part D plans have their own deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums. Most of my clients are on the two least expensive plans available. It really depends on which prescriptions you are on as to what the best plan for you is.
Let’s add all that up. Keep in mind that the part B premium and the supplemental premium typically go up every single year.
Example 1: An Advantage Plan with a $0 premim
Part B premium: $206.50
$0 premium Advantage Plan: $ 0.00
Monthly Total: $206.50
Example 2: Traditional Medicare with a “G” Medicare Supplement
Part B premium: $206.50
Part D premium: $ 5.00 (often under $5)
G Supplement: $175.00 (some are more, some are less)
Dental: $ 39.00 (typical pricing)
Monthly Total: $425.50
Example 3: Traditional Medicare with a “HDG” supplement
Part B premium: $206.50
Part D premium: $ 5.00 (often under $5)
HDG Supplement: $ 50.00 (some are more, some are less)
Dental: $ 39.00 (typical pricing)
Monthly Total: $300.50
As you can see there is a wide variety of options when you get to Medicare.
premium Advantage Plan: $ 0.00Monthly Total: 6.50
Example 2: Traditional Medicare with a “G” Medicare Supplement
Part B premium: 6.50
Part D premium: $ 5.00 (often under )
G Supplement: 5.00 (some are more, some are less)
Dental: $ 39.00 (typical pricing)
Monthly Total: 5.50
Example 3: Traditional Medicare with a “HDG” supplement
Part B premium: 6.50
Part D premium: $ 5.00 (often under )
HDG Supplement: $ 50.00 (some are more, some are less)
Dental: $ 39.00 (typical pricing)
Monthly Total: 0.50
As you can see there is a wide variety of options when you get to Medicare.