🏥 Free Tool · 2026 CMS Rates

Medicare Coverage
Plan Finder & Analyzer

Answer 9 questions. Get a personalized Medicare comparison with exact 2026 premiums, IRMAA calculations, and FEHB coordination analysis.

$185/mo2026 Part B Premium
$8,300Advantage OOP Max
10%/yrLate Enrollment Penalty
Step 1 of 9 Your Age
How old are you?
We use this to calculate your enrollment window and late penalty risk.
What is your current health insurance?
This determines your Special Enrollment Period eligibility.
Do you take regular prescription medications?
This affects whether Medicare Part D enrollment is critical for you.
Yes — I have regular Rx
No — minimal or none
Do you have preferred doctors you want to keep?
This is the key HMO vs. PPO decision point for Medicare Advantage plans.
Yes — I have doctors I want to keep
No — flexible about doctors
What do you currently pay per month for health insurance?
We'll show you how Medicare compares to what you pay today.
$
What was your 2024 annual income (MAGI)?
Used to calculate your IRMAA surcharge. Medicare uses your 2024 tax return to set 2026 premiums.
Are you planning to travel or live abroad in retirement?
Original Medicare covers almost nothing outside the US — this changes your coverage strategy significantly.
Yes — international plans important
No — staying in the US
Do you have any chronic conditions? (Select all that apply)
Helps us assess out-of-pocket risk under different plan types.
✓
Diabetes
✓
Heart Disease
✓
Cancer (history)
✓
Joint/Orthopedic
✓
Lung/COPD
✓
None of these
Do you have retiree health coverage from a previous employer?
Some retirees can coordinate employer coverage with Medicare for reduced out-of-pocket costs.

Analysis using 2026 CMS rates, updated May 2026.

2026 Medicare At a Glance

Part B (Outpatient) — What Everyone Pays

The standard Part B premium is $185.00/month in 2026. Add the annual deductible of $240. If your 2024 income exceeded $106,000 (single) or $212,000 (married), you pay an additional IRMAA surcharge — up to $443.90/month more.

Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare

The core tradeoff: Advantage plans typically have lower premiums ($0–$100/mo) but restrict you to a network and cap out-of-pocket costs at $8,300/year in-network. Original Medicare has no OOP cap — which is why Medigap supplemental insurance is essentially mandatory for Original Medicare enrollees.

The Medigap Window — Don't Miss It

You have a 6-month open enrollment window starting the month you turn 65 and enroll in Part B. During this window, no insurer can deny you coverage or charge more based on health status. After the window closes, underwriting applies — and pre-existing conditions can mean denial or dramatically higher premiums.

FEHB + Medicare: The Federal Employee Decision

If you're a federal employee or retiree with FEHB coverage, your Medicare decision is more nuanced than for most Americans. The question isn't "FEHB or Medicare" — it's "should I enroll in Part B to make FEHB secondary?"

When Medicare is primary and FEHB is secondary, the coordination typically eliminates most out-of-pocket costs. The annual Part B premium (~$2,220 standard in 2026) is usually recouped within a year through reduced copays and deductibles — especially if you have frequent healthcare needs.

The exception: if you're healthy and your FEHB premiums are already low, the math sometimes doesn't favor Part B enrollment. Run the numbers with your specific FEHB plan's Summary of Benefits.