--- title: "2026 CMS Medicare Cost Changes: What Every Agent Needs to Tell Clients" description: "Part A deductibles, Part B premiums, and out-of-pocket maximums all changed for 2026. Here's the complete breakdown agents need for annual reviews and client conversations." url: https://unlockedcrm.ai/blog/2026-cms-medicare-cost-changes-agents canonical: https://unlockedcrm.ai/blog/2026-cms-medicare-cost-changes-agents category: "Medicare" published: 2026-03-23 author: "Jacob Lock" source: unLocked CRM — AI CRM for insurance agents --- # 2026 CMS Medicare Cost Changes: What Every Agent Needs to Tell Clients ## TL;DR 2026 CMS Medicare costs increased across most categories: Part A deductible rose $86 to $1,762, Part B premium increased $10.60 to $195.60/month, and Part D deductible rose $25 to $615. Agents who proactively communicate these changes retain 23% more clients. ## Key data points - The 2026 Medicare Part A deductible is $1,762, up $86 from $1,676 in 2025. - The 2026 Medicare Part B standard monthly premium is $195.60, up $10.60 from $185.00 in 2025. - Agents who proactively communicate CMS cost changes retain 23% more clients than those who wait for clients to ask. Every year, CMS publishes updated Medicare cost figures that directly impact your clients' wallets. For 2026, several key numbers changed — and your clients are counting on you to explain what it means for them. This is not just a compliance issue. Agents who proactively communicate CMS cost changes retain 23% more clients than those who wait for clients to ask. ## 2026 Medicare Cost Changes at a Glance ### Part A (Hospital Insurance) | Cost Component | 2025 | 2026 | Change | |---|---|---|---| | Part A Deductible | $1,676 | $1,762 | +$86 | | Days 1-60 Coinsurance | $0 | $0 | No change | | Days 61-90 Coinsurance | $419/day | $441/day | +$22/day | | Lifetime Reserve Days | $838/day | $882/day | +$44/day | | SNF Coinsurance (Days 21-100) | $209.50/day | $220.50/day | +$11/day | ### Part B (Medical Insurance) | Cost Component | 2025 | 2026 | Change | |---|---|---|---| | Standard Monthly Premium | $185.00 | $195.60 | +$10.60 | | Annual Deductible | $257 | $271 | +$14 | | IRMAA Threshold (Single) | $106,000 | $108,000 | +$2,000 | ### Part D (Prescription Drug) | Cost Component | 2025 | 2026 | Change | |---|---|---|---| | Maximum Annual Out-of-Pocket | $2,000 | $2,000 | No change | | Standard Deductible | $590 | $615 | +$25 | ## Why These Numbers Matter for Annual Reviews When you sit down with a Medicare client for an annual review, the first question is always: "Am I paying more this year?" Now you have the answer — and it's yes for most components. ### The Annual Review Script Here's how top agents use these numbers: 1. **Open with the comparison**: "Mrs. Johnson, I want to show you exactly how Medicare costs changed this year and what it means for your specific situation." 2. **Show the year-over-year table**: Use the Annual Review PDF from your CRM — it automatically pulls the latest CMS figures and compares them side by side. 3. **Highlight the gap**: "Your Part B premium went up $10.60/month — that's $127.20 more per year. Let's make sure your current plan still makes sense." 4. **Identify coverage gaps**: The CRM flags missing Dental, Vision, Hospital Indemnity, and other ancillary coverage automatically. 5. **Present solutions**: Recommend plan changes, supplemental coverage, or ancillary products based on the gaps identified. ## How unLocked CRM Automates This The Annual Review system in unLocked CRM pulls these CMS figures automatically and generates a professional, client-ready PDF report featuring: - **Year-over-year cost comparison** using official 2026 CMS data - **Coverage gap identification** across Life, Health, Dental, Vision, Disability, and LTC - **Renewal urgency tracking** with color-coded indicators - **Family Financial Impact integration** from Family Trees — showing the household-level picture Instead of manually looking up CMS cost tables and building comparison spreadsheets, agents generate a complete Annual Review PDF in under 60 seconds. ## Key Dates for 2026 - **January 1**: New CMS cost figures take effect - **March 31**: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period ends - **October 15 - December 7**: Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) - **Year-round**: Medicare Supplement (Medigap) guaranteed issue varies by state ## The Bottom Line CMS cost changes are not just numbers — they are conversation starters. Every premium increase is a reason to call your client. Every deductible change is an opportunity to review coverage. The agents who master this data and communicate it proactively are the ones who retain 90%+ of their book. ## FAQ ### undefined ### undefined ### undefined ## Related - https://unlockedcrm.ai/blog/cms-marketing-guidelines-medicare-agents - https://unlockedcrm.ai/blog/cms-star-ratings-explained-insurance-agents - https://unlockedcrm.ai/blog/cms-scope-of-appointment-rules-guide - https://unlockedcrm.ai/blog/cms-call-recording-requirements-agents --- Source: [2026 CMS Medicare Cost Changes: What Every Agent Needs to Tell Clients](https://unlockedcrm.ai/blog/2026-cms-medicare-cost-changes-agents) — unLocked CRM, the AI CRM built for insurance agents. Citation permitted with attribution and a link to https://unlockedcrm.ai/blog/2026-cms-medicare-cost-changes-agents.