The 2025 Medicare deductibles at a glance
Medicare has separate deductibles for hospital care and doctor visits, and they change each year. For 2025, the Part A deductible (hospital insurance) is $1,676 per benefit period. The Part B deductible (medical insurance) is $240 per year. Part D (prescription drug coverage) deductibles vary by plan, typically ranging from $0 to several hundred dollars depending on which plan you choose.
A benefit period for Part A runs from the day you enter the hospital until 60 days have passed since you left. If you go back to the hospital after that 60-day window, you pay a new deductible. Part B deductibles reset on January 1 each year, regardless of when you enrolled.
These amounts explore to Original Medicare (Parts A and B). If you have a Medicare Advantage plan instead, your deductibles may be different — some plans have lower deductibles, and some have none at all, though you typically pay higher copays when you use services.
Key Takeaways
- Part A (hospital) deductible for 2025 is $1,676 per benefit period, which runs from hospital admission until 60 days after discharge.
- Part B (doctor visits and outpatient care) deductible for 2025 is $240 per calendar year.
- Part D (prescription drugs) deductibles depend on your specific plan and can range from $0 to several hundred dollars.
- Medicare Advantage plans have their own deductible structures that may be lower or higher than Original Medicare, so compare plans during open enrollment.
How Part A deductibles work in the hospital
When you are admitted to the hospital, you pay the Part A deductible ($1,676 in 2025) before Medicare starts paying. After you pay this amount, Medicare covers your hospital bills for days 1 through 60 of your stay at no additional cost to you.
If you stay longer than 60 days in the same benefit period, you then pay a coinsurance amount — $419 per day for days 61 through 90. If you need to stay even longer, the costs rise further. This is why understanding your benefit period matters: if you are discharged and readmitted after 60 days have passed, you start fresh with a new $1,676 deductible.
Part A also covers skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and home health services, each with their own cost rules. The deductible applies to hospital stays, but skilled nursing facilities have a different structure — you pay coinsurance rather than a deductible.
How Part B deductibles work for doctor visits
The Part B deductible ($240 in 2025) applies to most outpatient services: doctor visits, lab tests, imaging, and procedures done outside the hospital. You pay this $240 once per calendar year, and then Medicare typically covers 80 percent of the approved amount for most services.
You then pay coinsurance — usually 20 percent of what Medicare approves — for the rest of the year. Some services, like preventive care (annual wellness visits, screenings, vaccines), have no deductible and no coinsurance; Medicare covers them fully.
If you see an out-of-network provider who does not accept Medicare assignment, you may pay more than the standard 20 percent coinsurance. Always ask whether your doctor accepts Medicare assignment before your visit.
Part D prescription drug deductibles and how they vary
Part D plans set their own deductibles, so the amount you pay depends entirely on which plan you choose. Some plans have no deductible at all. Others have deductibles ranging from $50 to $500 or more. When you compare plans during open enrollment (October 15 to December 7 each year), the deductible amount is listed for each option.
Once you meet your deductible, you enter the initial coverage phase, where you and your plan share the cost of drugs. The exact split depends on your plan — you might pay 25 percent coinsurance, or a fixed copay per prescription. After you and your plan spend a certain amount together (called the initial coverage limit), you enter the coverage gap, where you pay a larger share of drug costs.
Your Part D deductible resets on January 1 each year. If you switch plans during open enrollment, your new plan's deductible applies starting January 1, even if you had not met your old plan's deductible.
Medicare Advantage deductibles and how they differ
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) instead of Original Medicare, your deductibles work differently. Some Advantage plans have no deductible at all. Others have a single deductible that applies to both hospital and doctor visits combined. A few plans have separate deductibles for different types of care.
Medicare Advantage plans must cover everything that Original Medicare covers, but they can structure costs differently. A plan might have a low or zero deductible but charge you $50 per doctor visit instead. Another might have a $500 deductible but lower copays. During open enrollment, compare the total out-of-pocket costs for your expected care, not just the deductible amount.
Advantage plans also include Part D prescription coverage built in, so you do not choose a separate drug plan. The deductible for drugs is part of your overall plan structure.
What happens after you meet your deductible
Once you pay your Part A or Part B deductible, Medicare begins to share costs with you for the rest of that benefit period or calendar year. For Part A hospital stays, Medicare covers the full cost of your hospital bill (minus any coinsurance for stays over 60 days). For Part B services, Medicare typically pays 80 percent and you pay 20 percent coinsurance.
Your out-of-pocket costs do not stop after the deductible — coinsurance continues throughout the year. However, if you have a Medigap policy (supplemental insurance), it may cover some or all of your coinsurance, depending on which Medigap plan you have. If you have Medicaid as well, it may help pay your deductible and coinsurance.
Keep track of what you have paid toward your deductible. Your Medicare statements show this information, and you can also check your account on Medicare.gov.
Questions to ask your doctor or Medicare
Before a hospital stay or major procedure, ask your doctor's office whether the service is covered by Medicare and whether you will owe a deductible. If you are unsure whether a test or procedure is preventive (and therefore covered with no deductible), ask directly — the answer affects your out-of-pocket cost.
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, call your plan's customer service number (on your insurance card) to confirm your deductible and whether a specific provider or service is covered. Plans vary widely, and your plan's rules may differ from Original Medicare.
If you are considering switching plans during open enrollment, use the Medicare Plan Finder tool on Medicare.gov to compare deductibles and total costs for your current medications and doctors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay the Part A deductible every time I go to the hospital?
No. You pay it once per benefit period. A benefit period starts when you enter the hospital and ends 60 days after you leave. If you are readmitted after that 60-day window closes, a new benefit period begins and you owe a new deductible.
Are preventive services like colonoscopies and flu shots covered without a deductible?
Yes. Medicare covers many preventive services with no deductible and no coinsurance, including colonoscopies, mammograms, blood pressure checks, and annual wellness visits. However, if your doctor finds something during a preventive visit and performs additional treatment, that treatment may be subject to your deductible and coinsurance.
What is the difference between a deductible and coinsurance?
A deductible is a fixed amount you pay before Medicare starts to help pay. Coinsurance is a percentage of the cost you pay after the deductible is met. For example, with Part B, you pay the $240 deductible first, then Medicare pays 80 percent and you pay 20 percent coinsurance for the rest of the year.
Can I find out my Part D deductible before I enroll?
Yes. During open enrollment, you can view the deductible for each Part D plan on Medicare.gov using the Plan Finder tool. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE to speak with someone who can explain the deductibles for plans in your area.
Does my Medigap policy cover my Medicare deductibles?
It depends on which Medigap plan you have. Some Medigap plans cover your Part A deductible, Part B deductible, or both. Plan G, for example, covers your Part B deductible. Review your Medigap policy documents or call your insurance company to confirm what it covers.