Medicare provides health coverage to millions of Americans today. But one of the biggest myths about Medicare is that coverage is free.

There are not only associated costs Medicarebut these costs also tend to increase from year to year. And 2026 is no exception. Here are three reasons why you might not like being enrolled in Medicare this year.

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Medicare Part B covers outpatient care, and there is a monthly premium that all enrollees must pay. This is true even if you sign up aa Medicare Advantage Plan.

In 2025, the standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B was $185, but this year it is $202.90. Not only is that a significant year-over-year increase, but it could also substantially erode this year’s 2.8% Social Security cost-of-living adjustment, since Part B premiums are paid directly out of those monthly benefits.

Medicare Part A, which covers hospital care, generally does not require enrollees to pay a premium. But there is a significant deductible associated with hospital admissions.

Last year, that deductible was $1,676. This year, it’s up to $1,736.

Your Medicare Part A hospitalization deductible may not be the only cost you face during your stay. If you are hospitalized for more than 60 days, you will have to pay a daily co-insurance.

Last year, the coinsurance rate for days 61 to 90 of a hospital stay was $419 per day. This year, it’s $434.

Beyond your 90th hospital day, you must use your lifetime reserve days, and there is also a daily cost. In 2025, it was $838 a day, but this year, it’s $868.

Unfortunately, Medicare costs can rise quite substantially from year to year. So it’s important to do what you can to minimize your overall out-of-pocket expenses.

So here are some things to do:

• Find out if you can get an affordable Medigap plan if you don’t already have one.

• Review your Medicare Advantage or Part D drug plan options each year during fall open enrollment.

• Go with network providers whenever possible.

• Take advantage of low-cost or no-cost preventive care to get ahead of health problems before they become more expensive to treat.

It’s no surprise that Medicare costs have risen this year. But this can create a difficulty for you. Therefore, it is important to fully understand your coverage and find ways to reduce your out-of-pocket costs.