The 2025 Medicare Part B deductible is $240 per year

For 2025, you pay $240 out of your own pocket before Medicare Part B starts to cover your doctor visits, outpatient care, and other services. This is the amount you must spend on covered services in a calendar year before your insurance kicks in. Once you've paid $240, Medicare covers its share of your bills for the rest of that year.

The deductible resets on January 1 each year. If you haven't met it by December 31, the amount you've already paid does not carry over — you start fresh at $240 on the first day of the new year.

This $240 figure applies only to Part B. If you also have Part A (hospital insurance), that has its own separate deductible, which is much higher. The two deductibles do not combine or count toward each other.

Key Takeaways

  • You pay the first $240 of your Part B costs each calendar year before Medicare begins to pay its share.
  • The deductible covers doctor visits, lab tests, imaging, and outpatient procedures — not hospital stays, which fall under Part A.
  • Once you meet the $240 deductible, you still pay a copay or coinsurance for most services; the deductible does not mean free care after that.
  • The deductible amount changes each year and is set by Medicare based on healthcare cost trends.

How the Part B deductible works in practice

When you see your doctor or have an outpatient test, the provider bills Medicare. Medicare looks at what it considers the "approved amount" for that service. You are responsible for the full approved amount until you've paid $240 total. After that, you typically pay 20% coinsurance on most services, and Medicare pays 80%.

Certain services do not count toward your deductible. These include preventive care visits (like annual wellness exams and screenings), some vaccines, and mental health services in certain settings. Check with your doctor or call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE to confirm whether a specific service counts toward your deductible.

If you have a Medigap or Medicare Advantage plan in addition to Original Medicare Part B, that plan may cover your deductible for you. Many Medigap plans are designed to pay this amount on your behalf, so you would not owe it directly. Medicare Advantage plans vary — some have their own deductibles that work differently.

What happens if you do not meet the deductible by year-end

If you use very little healthcare and only spend $100 on covered services in 2025, you do not get a refund or credit. That $100 straightforward does not count toward anything — it is gone. You still owe the full $240 deductible if you need care later in the year.

The deductible does not roll forward. On January 1, 2026, it resets to whatever amount Medicare sets for that year (which will likely be higher than $240, as it has been in recent years). You start over from zero.

How the Part B deductible has changed in recent years

Medicare adjusts the Part B deductible annually based on changes in healthcare costs. In 2024, the deductible was $240. In 2023, it was $226. In 2022, it was $203. The trend has been upward, though the year-to-year increase varies.

Medicare announces the new deductible amount in October or November of the prior year, so you have time to plan. You can find the current year's deductible on Medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.

Part B deductible versus coinsurance and copays

The deductible is only the first hurdle. After you've paid $240, you do not stop paying for care. For most Part B services, you then pay 20% coinsurance — meaning Medicare pays 80% and you pay the remaining 20% of the approved amount.

Some services have a fixed copay instead. For example, a visit to your primary care doctor might have a $15 copay after the deductible is met. Urgent care visits, specialist visits, and lab work may each have different copay amounts or coinsurance percentages. Your provider's office can tell you what you'll owe for a specific service.

There is also an annual out-of-pocket maximum for Part B, though it works differently than in commercial insurance. Once you've spent a certain amount on coinsurance in a year, you may may have access to for help through other programs, but Medicare does not cap your costs the way a private plan might.

If you have a gap in Part B coverage

If you drop Part B and then re-enroll later, you may owe a higher premium for life, but the deductible itself does not change. You still pay $240 (or whatever the current year's amount is) when you restart coverage.

If you were covered by an employer health plan while working and delayed enrolling in Part B, you may not face a penalty when you do enroll. However, you should contact Social Security or Medicare to confirm your situation, because the rules depend on your specific circumstances.

Questions to ask your doctor or Medicare

Before a visit or procedure, ask your provider's billing office: "Does this service count toward my Part B deductible?" and "What will I owe out of pocket?" This helps you budget and avoid surprises.

If you receive a bill that seems wrong or higher than expected, call the provider first to ask why. If the bill still does not make sense, you can contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE to ask about the approved amount and what you should owe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my Part B deductible explore to prescription drugs?

No. Prescription drugs are covered under Part D, which has its own separate deductible. Your Part B deductible covers only doctor visits, outpatient services, and medical equipment — not medications you pick up at a pharmacy.

If I have a Medigap plan, do I still pay the Part B deductible?

It depends on which Medigap plan you have. Some Medigap plans (like Plan C and Plan F) cover the Part B deductible for you, so you would not owe it. Other plans do not. Check your Medigap policy documents or call your insurance company to confirm.

What if I switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare mid-year?

Your Part B deductible does not carry over between plan types. If you switch to Original Medicare, you start fresh with the $240 deductible for that year, even if you already paid a deductible under your Medicare Advantage plan.

Can I pay my Part B deductible all at once, or do I pay as I use services?

You pay as you use services. When you see a doctor or have a test, you pay toward the $240 until it is met. You cannot prepay the deductible to Medicare.

Does preventive care count toward my deductible?

Most preventive services (like your annual wellness visit, cancer screenings, and certain vaccines) do not count toward your Part B deductible. However, if you need additional testing or treatment beyond the preventive visit, that may count. Ask your doctor which services are preventive and which are not.