The pieces of your monthly cost (2026)
| Piece | What most people pay | Who pays more or less |
|---|---|---|
| Part A (hospital) | $0 premium | People with fewer than 40 quarters of Medicare-covered work, theirs or a spouse's, pay up to $565 a month |
| Part B (medical) | $202.90 a month | Higher incomes pay up to $689.90; late enrollees pay a penalty |
| Part D drug plan | Varies by plan | Higher incomes add an IRMAA surcharge of up to $91 |
| Medigap policy | Varies by plan letter, company and age | Set by each company and filed with the Ohio Department of Insurance |
| Medicare Advantage plan | Varies by plan and county | Replaces Medigap and usually includes Part D; you still pay Part B |
Premiums aren't your only cost. You also pay deductibles, copays and coinsurance when you get care, such as the Part B deductible of $283 and the Part A hospital deductible of $1,736 in 2026. Part D drug costs are capped at $2,100 a year. See Medicare costs in 2026.
Two common ways Ohioans put it together
- Original Medicare, Part D and Medigap: you pay the Part B premium plus a Part D premium and a Medigap premium. Medigap pays much of your share of Medicare-covered care, and you can see any provider that accepts Medicare.
- Medicare Advantage: you pay the Part B premium plus the plan's premium, if any, and the plan's cost sharing up to its yearly limit (no more than $9,250 in network in 2026). See Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage in Ohio.
Choices differ across Ohio's 88 counties: for 2027, CMS lists 68 Medicare Advantage plans open to everyone in Summit County but 22 in Scioto County, and 9 standalone Part D plans statewide.
If you retired from an Ohio public job
Many Ohio public retirees don't get a Social Security check, so Medicare bills them for Part B. Your retirement system may charge its own premium for group coverage or fund a health reimbursement account, and some help with Part B. Each system publishes its own amounts; see Ohio public retirement systems and Medicare.
Help with costs in Ohio
- Medicare Premium Assistance Programs: QMB pays Medicare premiums, deductibles and coinsurance, and SLMB and QI-1 pay the Part B premium. Ohio has an income test and an asset test. Apply at benefits.ohio.gov or your county Job and Family Services office. See Medicare Savings Programs in Ohio.
- Extra Help: lowers Part D costs; apply through Social Security. See Extra Help in Ohio.
To add up plan costs for your county, you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent, or see plans for your ZIP code.
Related questions
How much is Part B in 2027?
Where the 2027 amounts stand.
Do I pay a premium for Part A?
The 40-quarter rule and Ohio public jobs.
What is IRMAA?
Income-based premiums.
Sources
- CMS — 2026 Medicare Parts A & B premiums and deductibles
- Medicare.gov — Medicare costs
- Medicare.gov — Pay Medicare premiums
- Ohio Administrative Code 5160:1-3-02.1 — Medicare premium assistance programs
- CMS — CY2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape files (Ohio counts)
More questions in this guide
- Do I have to pay a premium for Medicare Part A?
- How do I lower my IRMAA after I retire?
- How much is Medicare Part B in 2027?
- What is IRMAA and will I have to pay it?
Part of the guide: Medicare costs in 2026 for Ohioans · All questions
Frequently asked questions
Is Medicare cheaper in Ohio than in other states?
The Part A and Part B amounts are the same nationwide. Premiums for Part D, Medigap and Medicare Advantage plans are set by the companies and differ by plan, county and, for Medigap, factors like your age. Compare plans for your own ZIP code.
Do I still pay the Part B premium with a Medicare Advantage plan?
Yes. You keep paying your Part B premium when you join a Medicare Advantage plan, plus any premium the plan charges. That is also true for the group Medicare Advantage plans STRS Ohio and SERS offer retirees.
How do Ohio public retirees pay the Part B premium without Social Security?
Medicare sends a premium bill, every 3 months if you have only Part B. You can pay it online through your Medicare account, set up Medicare Easy Pay to take it from your bank account each month, use your bank's bill pay, or mail a payment.
Medicare in your Ohio county
Plans, local agents and help, county by county: Franklin · Cuyahoga · Hamilton · Summit · Montgomery · Lucas · Butler · Stark · Lorain · Warren · Delaware · Lake · Mahoning · Clermont · Trumbull · Licking · Medina · Greene · Fairfield · Portage · All 88 counties →
