The Medicare Part B deductible for 2024 is $240 per year
This is the amount you must pay yourself before Medicare starts to pay for most doctor visits, outpatient services, and medical equipment. Once you have paid $240 in covered services, Medicare covers its share of the cost for the rest of that calendar year. The deductible resets on January 1 each year.
The deductible applies to most Part B services, but not all. Some preventive care — like annual wellness visits, cancer screenings, and vaccinations — does not count toward the deductible and is covered at no cost to you. Other services, like mental health visits, also skip the deductible in some cases.
The deductible amount changes each year. It has risen steadily over the past decade, so if you are new to Medicare or returning after a gap, the current amount may be higher than you remember.
Key Takeaways
- You pay the first $240 of your Part B costs each calendar year before Medicare begins to share the cost.
- Preventive services like wellness visits and screenings do not count toward the deductible and are fully covered.
- Once you meet the deductible, you typically pay 20 percent of the cost for doctor visits and outpatient services, and Medicare pays 80 percent.
- The deductible amount is set by federal law and changes annually, usually announced in the fall for the following year.
- If you have a Medigap or Medicare Advantage plan, your out-of-pocket costs may be lower because those plans help cover the deductible.
How the deductible works with your other costs
After you pay the $240 deductible, you do not stop paying. For most Part B services, you then pay a coinsurance amount — usually 20 percent of the cost — and Medicare pays 80 percent. This continues for the rest of the year.
Part B also has a separate cost called the premium, which is the monthly fee you pay to have Part B coverage. In 2024, the standard premium is $164.90 per month, though some people pay more based on their income. The premium is separate from the deductible and coinsurance — you pay it whether you use Medicare services or not.
If you have Original Medicare only (Part A and Part B with no supplemental coverage), you are responsible for the full deductible and the 20 percent coinsurance on all covered services. This is why many people buy a Medigap policy or choose a Medicare Advantage plan to reduce their out-of-pocket costs.
Services that do not count toward the deductible
Preventive services are covered without a deductible. These include your annual wellness visit (sometimes called the "Welcome to Medicare" visit if you are new), cancer screenings like mammograms and colonoscopies, blood pressure checks, diabetes screening, and most vaccinations including flu, pneumonia, and shingles shots.
Mental health services have their own rules. Your first mental health visit each year does not count toward the deductible, but follow-up visits do. If you need ongoing therapy or psychiatric care, ask your provider or call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE to understand which visits will count.
Durable medical equipment — wheelchairs, walkers, oxygen equipment — does count toward the deductible. Once you have met the deductible, you pay 20 percent of the approved amount for equipment.
What happens if you have a Medigap or Medicare Advantage plan
A Medigap policy (also called Medigap supplemental insurance) is private insurance that works alongside Original Medicare. Many Medigap plans pay your Part B deductible for you, so you do not have to pay the $240 out of pocket. The plan then covers some or all of your coinsurance (the 20 percent you would normally pay). Which costs are covered depends on which Medigap plan you choose — plans are labeled A through N, and each has a different set of benefits.
A Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) is an alternative to Original Medicare. Instead of paying a deductible, you typically pay a copay for each doctor visit — for example, $20 or $30 per visit. Some Medicare Advantage plans have no deductible at all. However, these plans usually have a network of doctors you must use, and you may need prior approval for certain services.
If you are considering switching from Original Medicare to a Medigap or Medicare Advantage plan, or vice versa, the timing matters. You have limited windows to change plans without facing penalties or waiting periods. Contact Medicare or a counselor at your State Health Insurance information Program (SHIP) before you make a change.
When the deductible resets and how to track it
The Part B deductible resets on January 1 each year. If you reach your deductible in November, you start over at $0 on January 1. This means if you need expensive services late in the year, you may want to plan ahead or ask your doctor about timing elective procedures.
Medicare sends you an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) after each service. The EOB shows what the service cost, how much counted toward your deductible, and how much you owe. Keep these documents so you know how close you are to meeting your deductible. You can also log into your Medicare account at Medicare.gov to see your deductible status anytime.
If you use multiple providers — a primary care doctor, a cardiologist, a rheumatologist — all of their bills count toward the same $240 deductible. You do not have a separate deductible for each doctor.
How the deductible amount is decided and when it changes
Congress sets the Part B deductible by law. It is adjusted each year based on the growth in Medicare costs. The new deductible amount is announced in the fall and takes effect on January 1. For example, the 2024 deductible of $240 was announced in October 2023.
The deductible has increased most years. In 2020, it was $198. In 2021, it jumped to $203. By 2023, it had reached $226. The increases reflect rising healthcare costs across the country. If you are on a fixed income, these increases can add up, which is one reason many people choose to buy Medigap coverage.
You can find the current and upcoming year's deductible on Medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE. Your Medicare Summary Notice (the annual statement Medicare sends you) also lists the deductible amount for that year.
Questions to ask your doctor or Medicare
Before you have a service or procedure, ask your doctor's office whether it counts toward your Part B deductible. Some services are covered at no cost, and knowing this in advance helps you plan your budget.
If you receive a bill that seems wrong, ask for an itemized statement and compare it to your Explanation of Benefits. If the amounts do not match, contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE or your provider's billing department.
If you are thinking about buying Medigap coverage or switching to Medicare Advantage, ask about the deductible and out-of-pocket costs under each plan. A counselor at your State Health Insurance information Program can walk you through the options at no cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay the Part B deductible every year?
Yes. The deductible resets on January 1 each year, so you pay it once per calendar year. If you meet it in March, you do not pay it again until January 1 of the next year. If you have a Medigap plan that covers the deductible, your plan pays it for you instead.
What if I only use Medicare for preventive care?
If you only use preventive services that do not count toward the deductible, you may never pay the $240. You still pay your monthly Part B premium, but you would have no deductible cost. However, if you see a doctor for any other reason — an illness, an injury, a chronic condition — that visit counts toward the deductible.
Can I pay my deductible all at once, or do I have to pay as I go?
You pay as you go. When you receive a service, the provider bills Medicare, and Medicare tells you how much counts toward your deductible. You pay your share, and it accumulates until you reach $240. You cannot prepay the deductible.
Does my spouse's deductible count toward mine?
No. Each person on Medicare has their own separate deductible. If you and your spouse are both on Part B, you each pay up to $240 per year.
What if I have both Medicare and another insurance plan?
If you have employer coverage or union coverage in addition to Medicare, that plan may pay your Part B deductible. Contact your employer's benefits office or your union to ask. Medicare is always the primary payer, but your other insurance can help cover your costs.