Medicare Part A Premium 2026: Who Pays $565
You pay the full $565 only if neither you nor a qualifying spouse has 30 quarters of Medicare-covered work. That's often someone who immigrated later in life, or a public employee hired before April 1986 whose job didn't pay Medicare tax. (CMS: 2026 premiums and deductibles)
| Your best record | 2026 Part A premium |
|---|---|
| 40+ quarters (yours or a spouse's) | $0 |
| 30–39 quarters | $311 a month |
| Under 30 quarters | $565 a month |
"Spouse" is broader than you might think: a current spouse of at least a year, an ex-spouse after a marriage of 10 years or more, or a late spouse all count. Count your own on the work credits calculator.
Medicare Part A Premium 2027: The Projected Rates
The 2026 Medicare Trustees Report projects a 2027 Part A premium of $600 Projected with under 30 quarters and $330 Projected with 30–39, and a hospital deductible of $1,788 Projected. CMS usually announces the official figures in the fall; we update the day it does. (2026 Medicare Trustees Report)
The 2026 hospital deductible is $1,736 per benefit period, whether or not you pay a premium.
Our take: a few more quarters can be worth thousands
At 30 to 39 quarters, every year of the reduced premium costs about $3,700. If a year or two of part-time work gets you to 40, it pays for itself fast. Before you pay anything, check every marriage record — and if money is tight, see whether a Medicare Savings Program will pay it. Then total Parts B and D on the Medicare premium calculator.