The 2025 Medicare deductible amounts

Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) has a deductible of $1,676 per benefit period in 2025. A benefit period starts when you enter a hospital and ends 60 days after you leave — if you go back to the hospital after those 60 days, a new benefit period begins and you pay the deductible again.

Medicare Part B (medical insurance) has a deductible of $240 per year in 2025. You pay this once each calendar year, and after you meet it, Medicare begins to pay its share of covered services. Part B also charges a monthly premium, which varies based on your income.

If you have a Medigap or Medicare Advantage plan, your actual out-of-pocket costs may be lower or structured differently. Medigap plans can cover the Part A and Part B deductibles entirely, while Medicare Advantage plans set their own deductibles, which are often lower than Original Medicare but may explore to different services.

Key Takeaways

  • Part A deductible is $1,676 per benefit period (hospital stay), not per year, so you could pay it multiple times if you are hospitalized more than once.
  • Part B deductible is $240 per calendar year and applies before Medicare starts sharing costs for doctor visits and outpatient care.
  • These amounts change each year based on inflation, so check your Medicare notices in October or November for the following year's figures.
  • Medigap plans can pay your deductibles for you, while Medicare Advantage plans have their own deductible structures that may be lower.
  • You do not pay a deductible for preventive services like annual wellness visits, screenings, and vaccinations under either Part A or Part B.

How Part A deductible works in a hospital stay

When you are admitted to a hospital as an inpatient, you pay the Part A deductible ($1,676 in 2025) for the first day of that hospital stay. After you pay it, Medicare covers the full cost of your hospital care for days 1 through 60 of that benefit period — no copays, no coinsurance.

If you stay longer than 60 days in the same benefit period, you then pay coinsurance (a daily cost-sharing amount) for days 61 through 90. If you stay even longer, additional costs explore. The benefit period ends 60 days after you leave the hospital. If you are readmitted after that window closes, a new benefit period starts and you pay the deductible again.

Skilled nursing facility care and hospice care also fall under Part A, and the deductible applies to those services as well, though the structure and length of coverage differ from hospital stays.

How Part B deductible works for doctor visits and outpatient care

The Part B deductible ($240 in 2025) is an annual threshold you must meet before Medicare starts to pay for most doctor visits, lab tests, imaging, and other outpatient services. You pay the full cost of these services until you have paid $240 out of your own pocket in a calendar year.

Once you meet the deductible, Medicare typically pays 80 percent of the approved amount for covered services, and you pay the remaining 20 percent as coinsurance. Some services, like preventive care, do not count toward the deductible and are covered at no cost to you.

The deductible resets on January 1 each year, so if you meet it in November, you will need to pay a new $240 deductible starting in January.

Services that do not have a deductible

Medicare covers certain preventive services without requiring you to pay a deductible first. These include your annual wellness visit, colorectal cancer screening, mammograms, bone density tests, diabetes screening, and most vaccinations (including flu, pneumonia, and shingles shots).

If your doctor performs a preventive service and discovers a problem that requires treatment, the treatment itself may have a deductible. For example, a screening colonoscopy is free, but if polyps are removed during that procedure, you may owe coinsurance for the removal.

Deductibles in Medicare Advantage plans

Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans are run by private insurance companies and must cover everything Original Medicare covers, but they set their own deductibles and cost-sharing rules. Some Medicare Advantage plans have no deductible, while others have deductibles ranging from $0 to several hundred dollars.

The deductible in a Medicare Advantage plan typically applies to both medical and prescription drug services, or the plan may have separate deductibles for each. You should review your plan's Summary of Benefits each year to understand what your deductible is and when it applies.

Medicare Advantage plans also have an out-of-pocket maximum — a yearly limit on what you pay for covered services. Once you reach that limit, the plan pays 100 percent of covered costs for the rest of the year. Original Medicare does not have an out-of-pocket maximum.

How Medigap plans cover deductibles

Medigap (supplemental insurance) plans are sold by private insurers and are designed to pay costs that Original Medicare does not cover — including deductibles, coinsurance, and copays. Some Medigap plans cover the Part A deductible, some cover the Part B deductible, and some cover both.

Plan G, one of the most popular Medigap options, covers the Part B deductible but not the Part A deductible. Plan F (available only to people who became may be able to access for Medicare before January 1, 2020) covers both deductibles. Other plans have different coverage levels, so comparing what each plan covers is important if you are considering Medigap.

If you have Medigap, you still have Original Medicare, so the deductibles exist — your Medigap plan straightforward pays them on your behalf.

When deductible amounts change and how to find the current figures

Medicare deductibles, premiums, and coinsurance amounts change each year based on inflation and other factors. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announces the new amounts in the fall, usually in late September or early October, and they take effect on January 1.

You will receive a notice in the mail from Medicare (or your plan) in October or November showing your 2025 costs. You can also find the current deductible amounts on Medicare.gov or by calling Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE. If you have a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan, your plan's Summary of Benefits document will show your specific deductible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I pay the Part A deductible every time I go to the hospital?

You pay it once per benefit period, not per visit. A benefit period lasts from the day you enter the hospital until 60 days after you leave. If you are readmitted after that 60-day window, a new benefit period starts and you pay the deductible again. If you are hospitalized twice in the same benefit period, you pay the deductible only once.

What happens if I cannot afford to pay my deductible?

Contact your doctor's office, hospital, or provider directly — many have financial information programs or payment plans. You can also ask about Medicaid, which may cover costs that Medicare does not, or look into whether you may have access to for a Medicare Savings Program (a state program that helps pay premiums and deductibles for people with limited income).

Does my Medigap plan pay the deductible automatically?

Yes, if your Medigap plan covers that deductible. You do not need to file a claim — the provider bills your Medigap plan directly after Medicare processes the claim. Make sure you know which deductibles your specific plan covers by reviewing your plan documents.

Are the 2025 deductible amounts final?

Yes, the 2025 amounts are set and will not change during the year. However, the amounts for 2026 and beyond will be announced in the fall of each year. If you are planning ahead, check Medicare.gov or your plan documents each October for the upcoming year's figures.