Medicare Advantage Premiums Decrease Next Year

Here’s a breakdown of the key information from the provided text regarding Medicare changes for 2026:

* Medicare Advantage Enrollment: CMS projects a slight decrease in Medicare Advantage enrollment from 34.9 million in 2025 to 34 million in 2026, but anticipates actual enrollment will be higher than projected. CMS is working with providers to lower costs.
* Part B Premiums: Premiums for Medicare Part B are increasing from $185/month in 2025 to $206.50/month in 2026 – an 11.6% increase ($21.50 more per month).You still pay this premium even if you have Medicare Advantage.
* Part D Out-of-Pocket Maximum (Catastrophic Threshold): The out-of-pocket maximum for Part D (the point where Medicare covers 100% of drug costs) is rising from $2,000 in 2025 to $2,100 in 2026 – a 5% increase ($100 more).
* Overall Cost: even with potential savings from Medicare Advantage, enrollees could still pay an average of $19.10 more per month in 2026.