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What is the Part B deductible?

What is the Part B deductible?

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Last updated: 
April 10, 2026
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The short answer

The Medicare Part B deductible is the amount you pay each calendar year before Medicare starts covering your outpatient medical costs. It resets every January 1 and the amount adjusts annually.

The full explanation

Part B covers outpatient services, things like doctor visits, lab work, preventive care, and durable medical equipment. Before Medicare pays its share of those services, you first pay the Part B deductible for the year. Once you meet the deductible, Medicare generally covers 80 percent of approved costs and you are responsible for the remaining 20 percent, which is called coinsurance. The deductible amount changes from year to year, so the figure that applied last year may not be accurate today. It is worth confirming the current amount at Medicare.gov or with a licensed agent. One thing that often surprises people: some preventive services, like the Welcome to Medicare visit and certain screenings, are covered without requiring you to first meet the deductible. That is worth knowing if you are newly enrolled and wondering whether to schedule routine care right away. If covering the 20 percent coinsurance after the deductible feels like a lot of financial exposure, a Medicare Supplement plan may help, though those plans come with their own premiums and eligibility rules.

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In 

Utah

 specifically

In Utah, plan fit often comes down to provider network access. Intermountain Health, University of Utah Health, and rural hospital access can matter just as much as premium.

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What this means for you

For you, this means once you meet the Part B deductible each year, Medicare picks up 80 percent of approved outpatient costs, but that remaining 20 percent has no cap under Original Medicare alone, so larger medical expenses can add up.

Related Questions

What is the Part A deductible?

What is the Part B premium and what affects it?

How much does Medicare cost per month?

What is coinsurance in Medicare and how is it different from a copay?

What costs am I still responsible for even with Medicare?

Still have questions about Medicare?

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