How Much Is Taken Out of Social Security for Medicare in 2026?
Reviewed October 5, 2026. For most people, $202.90 a month is taken out of Social Security for Medicare in 2026. That’s the standard Medicare Part B premium, and Social Security deducts it automatically from your monthly benefit. If your income is higher, you also pay an income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA) for Part B and Part D, which is deducted too. Most people pay nothing for Part A.
Quick answer: The amount withheld depends on your income from two years earlier and on whether you’ve asked your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan to deduct its premium. Single filers with 2024 modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) of $109,000 or less, and joint filers with $218,000 or less, pay the standard $202.90.
What Medicare costs come out of your Social Security check?
| Medicare cost | Deducted from Social Security? | 2026 amount |
|---|---|---|
| Part A premium | Only if you owe one | $0 for most people; $311 or $565 per month if you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes for less than 10 years |
| Part B standard premium | Yes, automatically for most people getting benefits | $202.90 per month |
| Part B IRMAA | Yes | $81.20 to $487.00 per month extra, based on income |
| Part D IRMAA | Yes, regardless of how you pay your drug plan premium | $14.50 to $91.00 per month extra, based on income |
| Medicare Advantage or Part D plan premium | Only if you choose this payment option with your plan | Varies by plan |
Sources: CMS 2026 Parts A and B premiums and deductibles, Medicare.gov: How to pay Part A and Part B premiums and SSA: Medicare premiums.
Medicare.gov says, “Most people get their Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) premium deducted automatically from their Social Security benefit payment (or Railroad Retirement Board benefit payment).”
How much is taken out if you have a higher income?
Social Security uses the MAGI on your federal tax return from two years earlier. For 2026, that’s your 2024 return. Here’s the total monthly amount deducted for Part B, plus the separate Part D IRMAA:
| 2024 MAGI, single | 2024 MAGI, married filing jointly | Part B total per month | Part D IRMAA per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| $109,000 or less | $218,000 or less | $202.90 | $0.00 |
| $109,001 to $137,000 | $218,001 to $274,000 | $284.10 | $14.50 |
| $137,001 to $171,000 | $274,001 to $342,000 | $405.80 | $37.50 |
| $171,001 to $205,000 | $342,001 to $410,000 | $527.50 | $60.40 |
| $205,001 to $499,999 | $410,001 to $749,999 | $649.20 | $83.30 |
| $500,000 or more | $750,000 or more | $689.90 | $91.00 |
Source: CMS 2026 fact sheet. The Part D IRMAA is added on top of your drug plan’s own premium. Married people who lived with their spouse and file separately have different brackets; see our full IRMAA brackets guide.
If your income dropped because of a life-changing event such as retirement, you can ask Social Security to lower your IRMAA with Form SSA-44. Our IRMAA guide walks through the steps.
Example: what your 2026 deposit looks like
Say your gross Social Security benefit is $2,000 a month, you have Part A and Part B, your income is under the IRMAA threshold, and you pay your Part D plan premium directly to the plan.
- Gross benefit: $2,000.00
- Part B premium deducted: $202.90
- Net deposit (before any voluntary federal tax withholding): $1,797.10
Your annual Form SSA-1099 shows the Medicare premiums deducted during the year in Box 3, which can matter if you itemize medical expenses.
Can Medicare Advantage or Part D premiums be taken out of Social Security?
Yes, if you choose that option. Most Medicare Advantage and Part D plans let you pay the plan premium by automatic deduction from your Social Security benefit, by bank draft or by bill. Contact your plan to set it up or change it. It can take a few months for a deduction to start, and the first deduction may cover more than one month.
Part B IRMAA and Part D IRMAA are different: Social Security deducts them from your benefit no matter how you pay your plan premium. If your benefit isn’t large enough or you don’t get benefits yet, you’ll get a bill instead.
What if you don’t receive Social Security yet?
If you enroll in Medicare before claiming Social Security, for example at 65 while still working, there’s no check to deduct from. Medicare sends a quarterly bill (Form CMS-500) for Part B. You can pay online, by automatic bank deduction through Medicare Easy Pay, or by mail. See how to pay your Medicare premium. Once your Social Security benefits start, the deduction usually begins automatically.
Retirees who get Railroad Retirement benefits have the premium deducted from that payment, and some federal civil service retirees can have it deducted from their annuity.
Does the Part B premium increase reduce your Social Security check?
The Part B premium usually changes every January, at the same time as the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). For 2026, Social Security benefits rose 2.8% (SSA), and the standard Part B premium rose $17.90 to $202.90.
A “hold harmless” rule in the Social Security Act generally keeps the dollar increase in the standard Part B premium from making most people’s net Social Security payment smaller than the year before. It doesn’t apply to people who pay IRMAA, people new to Medicare, or people whose premiums are paid by Medicaid.
CMS usually announces the next year’s Part B premium in the fall. When the 2027 amounts are published, we’ll update this page.
Ways to lower what’s taken out for Medicare
- Medicare Savings Programs: if your income and resources are limited, your state may pay your Part B premium. See Medicare Savings Programs income limits.
- Extra Help: lowers Part D premiums and drug costs. See Extra Help income limits.
- Part B giveback plans: some Medicare Advantage plans reduce your Part B premium in certain areas. Read Medicare Part B giveback.
- Request an IRMAA reduction if a life-changing event lowered your income.
- Avoid late enrollment penalties, which add to the premium for as long as you have coverage. See the Part D late enrollment penalty.
Frequently asked questions
How much is deducted from Social Security for Medicare in 2026?
For most people, $202.90 per month for Part B. Higher-income beneficiaries pay up to $689.90 for Part B, plus a Part D IRMAA of up to $91.00 per month.
Is Medicare Part A deducted from Social Security?
Most people don’t pay a Part A premium, so nothing is deducted. If you owe a Part A premium, it’s $311 or $565 per month in 2026, depending on how long you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes.
Why did my Social Security check go down?
Common reasons include a higher Part B premium, a new IRMAA based on your tax return from two years earlier, a plan premium deduction you set up, or a change in tax withholding. Check your benefit notice in your my Social Security account.
Can I stop Medicare from being taken out of my Social Security?
If you have Part B and receive Social Security, the premium is generally deducted automatically. You can choose a different payment method for Medicare Advantage or Part D plan premiums by contacting your plan.
Is the amount taken out for Medicare tax-deductible?
Medicare premiums can count as medical expenses if you itemize deductions, subject to IRS limits. Talk with a tax professional about your situation.
This article is general information, not tax, legal or individual insurance advice. Medicare365 is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government, the Social Security Administration or the federal Medicare program.