If you're on Medicare because of a disability, you pay the same Medicare costs as someone who is 65, with one important difference: Part A usually costs you nothing. This page lays out the 2026 numbers for each part of Medicare, what changes in 2027, the costs that surprise people, and the programs that can pay part or all of the bill. For the full timeline, see our guide to Medicare under 65 on disability.
How much does Medicare cost if you're under 65 on disability?
The main cost is Part B: $202.90 a month in 2026, plus a $283 yearly deductible and usually 20% of each service. Part A has no monthly premium when your Medicare is based on SSDI.
Medicare.gov says it plainly: if you get Medicare earlier than age 65, you won't pay a Part A premium. The 2026 Part B premium is $202.90 a month, and it can be higher if your income is higher. It's usually taken out of your Social Security payment, before your SSDI is deposited.
What are the 2026 costs for each part?
| Cost | 2026 amount (Original Medicare) |
|---|---|
| Part A premium | $0 when your Medicare is based on SSDI |
| Part A hospital deductible | $1,736 for each benefit period |
| Hospital days 61 to 90 | $434 a day; days 91 to 150 are $868 a day while you use your 60 lifetime reserve days |
| Skilled nursing facility days 21 to 100 | $217 a day (days 1 to 20 are $0 after the deductible) |
| Part B premium | $202.90 a month, or more at higher incomes |
| Part B deductible | $283 a year |
| Part B services | Usually 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, including equipment like wheelchairs and walkers |
| Yearly out-of-pocket limit | None in Original Medicare unless you add other coverage |
Source: Medicare.gov 2026 costs. The Part A deductible applies to each benefit period, not each year, so you can pay it more than once in a year. Medicare hasn't released the 2027 Part A and Part B amounts yet.
What does drug coverage cost?
It depends on the plan you choose, but Medicare caps what you pay out of pocket for covered drugs each year.
- Deductible: no Medicare drug plan can have a deductible above $615 in 2026, or $700 in 2027. Some plans have none.
- Yearly cap: once your out-of-pocket spending on covered Part D drugs reaches $2,100 in 2026 ($2,400 in 2027), you pay nothing more for covered drugs for the rest of the year.
- Premium: set by the plan, and higher-income enrollees can pay more.
Drug coverage is its own decision with its own timing. See how Part D works.
Is Medicare Advantage cheaper under 65?
It costs the same as it does for someone who is 65, and every plan has a yearly out-of-pocket limit. A plan has to charge everyone in the plan the same premium and copays, whatever their age. You still pay the Part B premium, and plans must set a yearly maximum out-of-pocket amount for in-network care. Whether that works out cheaper depends on the care you use. See Medicare Advantage under 65 on disability.
What about a Medicare Supplement under 65?
A Supplement can cover some or all of the 20% and the deductibles, depending on the plan letter, but under 65 access and pricing depend on your state. Federal law doesn't require companies to sell Medigap to people under 65. North Carolina requires certain plans within 6 months of Part B but lets insurers charge separate rates for people under 65. South Carolina's guarantee runs only through a state pool. Tennessee requires the same plans sold at 65, and rates for people under 65 can differ. Neither Advantage nor a Supplement is automatically the right answer. At 65, a full Medigap Open Enrollment Period opens.
Which costs surprise people?
- Late-enrollment penalties. Turning down Part B without qualifying coverage can add a Part B penalty of 10% for each full 12 months you went without it. A penalty from your disability years stops at 65.
- Several hospital deductibles in one year, because the Part A deductible is per benefit period.
- Equipment and therapy, which carry the 20% coinsurance under Original Medicare.
- Outpatient hospital copays, which can be higher than the same service in a doctor's office.
Can I get help paying these costs?
Yes. If your income and resources are limited, a state program can pay your Part B premium, and Extra Help can lower your drug costs.
- Medicare Savings Programs pay the Part B premium, and QMB also covers deductibles and coinsurance. In North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, the 2026 limits for one person are $1,330 a month (QMB), $1,596 (SLMB) and $1,796 (QI), with resources up to $9,950.
- Extra Help lowers Part D costs. The 2026 limits are $23,940 in yearly income and $18,090 in resources. With a Medicare Savings Program, you pay no more than $12.65 per covered drug in 2026.
- Full Medicaid alongside Medicare can cover most remaining costs. See having both Medicare and Medicaid and help paying for Medicare.
How The Jordan Insurance Agency helps
A licensed agent from The Jordan Insurance Agency will add up what each option would cost you based on your doctors, prescriptions and the services you use, and check whether you may qualify for help with Medicare costs. We work by phone, by video, or in person at our office at 3540 Toringdon Way, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28277, Monday through Friday, 9 to 5 Eastern, at no cost to you. Call (704) 926-7565 or use the button below to schedule a Medicare review. You can also read more on our Medicare page or browse our Medicare questions answered.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay a premium for Part A if I'm on SSDI?
No. If you get Medicare before 65 because of SSDI, you don't pay a Part A premium. You still have the Part A hospital deductible, which is $1,736 per benefit period in 2026.
Is the Part B premium taken out of my disability check?
Usually, yes. Medicare says the Part B premium is usually deducted automatically from your Social Security payment. The 2026 standard amount is $202.90 a month.
Is there a limit on what I can pay under Original Medicare?
No. Original Medicare has no yearly out-of-pocket limit. A Medicare Advantage plan has one, and a Medicare Supplement can cover some or all of the 20% coinsurance.
How much will I pay for prescriptions in 2026?
It depends on your plan, but your out-of-pocket spending on covered Part D drugs is capped at $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. After that, you pay nothing for covered drugs for the rest of the year.
Can the state pay my Part B premium?
Yes, if you qualify for a Medicare Savings Program. In North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, the 2026 income limit for one person is up to $1,796 a month for the QI program, with resources up to $9,950.
Reviewed and approved by Billy Jordan, Jr., licensed agent and President of The Jordan Insurance Agency.
Last reviewed: October 2026
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