Medicare Reference
Medicare statistics for 2026
Current enrollment and cost figures for families, caregivers, writers, and anyone comparing Medicare choices.
Last updated September 10, 2026
The Medicare numbers that shape real decisions.
Medicare decisions often come down to a few practical questions: how many people choose each type of coverage, what costs are built into Original Medicare, and what changes from one year to the next. This page brings together current figures from Medicare.gov and a 2026 KFF analysis of CMS enrollment data.
Plan costs and benefits can vary by person, location, income, prescriptions, and the coverage selected. Use these figures as a starting point, then review the details that apply to your situation.
64.2 million
people have both Medicare Part A and Part B in 2026.
This is the group eligible to choose between traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage.
Source: KFF analysis of CMS enrollment data, updated July 1, 202635.2 million
people are enrolled in Medicare Advantage in 2026.
That is 55% of people with both Part A and Part B.
Source: KFF analysis of CMS enrollment data, updated July 1, 202623%
of Medicare Advantage members are enrolled in special needs plans in 2026.
These plans are designed for people who meet specific eligibility criteria, such as dual Medicare and Medicaid enrollment or certain chronic conditions.
Source: KFF, June 5, 2026, updated July 1, 2026$202.90
is the standard Medicare Part B monthly premium in 2026.
Some people pay more based on income.
Source: Medicare.gov, 2026 costs$283
is the 2026 Medicare Part B annual deductible.
After the deductible, people generally pay coinsurance for covered services under Original Medicare.
Source: Medicare.gov, 2026 costs$1,736
is the 2026 Medicare Part A inpatient hospital deductible for each benefit period.
A benefit period is not the same as a calendar year, so the deductible may apply more than once in a year.
Source: Medicare.gov, 2026 costs$615
is the highest Part D deductible a Medicare drug plan may charge in 2026.
Some drug plans have a lower deductible or no deductible.
Source: Medicare.gov, 2026 drug coverage costs$2,100
is the 2026 out-of-pocket threshold for covered Part D drugs.
Once covered drug spending reaches that amount, Medicare.gov says the member moves into catastrophic coverage and pays no out-of-pocket cost for covered drugs for the rest of the calendar year.
Source: Medicare.gov, 2026 drug coverage costsPutting the numbers in context
One number never tells the whole coverage story.
The standard Part B premium and deductibles are helpful benchmarks, but they are not a complete picture of what a person will pay. Doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, plan rules, and income can all affect the final cost.
That is why a Medicare conversation should begin with the details that are personal: the doctors you want to see, the prescriptions you take, the pharmacies you use, and the monthly and out-of-pocket costs you are comfortable managing.
Explore Medicare guidance for your situationSources and methodology
Every figure on this page is linked to the source that supports it. Enrollment figures use KFF's 2026 analysis of CMS Medicare enrollment data, published June 5, 2026 and updated July 1, 2026. Cost figures use Medicare.gov's 2026 Medicare cost and drug coverage pages. This page is reviewed regularly and updated when major source figures change.
- KFF: Medicare Advantage in 2026, Enrollment Update and Key Trends
- Medicare.gov: Medicare costs for 2026
- Medicare.gov: Costs for Medicare drug coverage in 2026
Cite this page
Family Benefit Solutions. “Medicare Statistics for 2026.” Updated September 10, 2026. https://familybenefitsolutions.net/medicare-statistics
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