How to Pay Your Part B Premium and Avoid a Missed Payment
Written by My65 Playbook Editorial Team
Is this article for you?
If your question is about a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan's own premium, see that plan's billing notice instead; this covers Part B.
If you get Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits, your Part B premium comes out of that monthly payment. If not, Medicare mails you a bill, often every 3 months. You can pay it with Medicare Easy Pay, online, through your bank or by mail.
Key takeaways
- The 2026 standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month; Medicare sets it each year.
- Social Security and Railroad Retirement benefits pay the premium by automatic deduction.
- Without those benefits, you get a Medicare Premium Bill, often every 3 months.
- Medicare Easy Pay takes the premium from your bank account each month.
- A missed bill leads to a second bill, then a delinquent bill, before coverage can end.
How much is the Part B premium?
The 2026 standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month. Medicare sets this amount each year, so it can change in 2027. The 2026 Part B deductible is $283 a year.
Some people pay more. IRMAA (an extra monthly charge for people with higher incomes) is added to the standard premium. You can read how it works in Navigating IRMAA: Why Some Pay More for Medicare Part B and Part D.
Part A works differently. You pay no Part A premium if you have 40 or more quarters of Medicare-covered work. For many people, Part B is the main premium they pay Medicare each month.
Who has the premium taken from Social Security?
If you get Social Security retirement or disability benefits, the premium comes out on its own. You do not need to send anything. The deduction shows on your benefit statement.
The same is true for Railroad Retirement Board benefits. Some federal retirees can also have it taken from their civil service annuity.
With a deduction, your monthly deposit is your benefit minus the premium. In 2026, that is $202.90 for the standard premium. If you pay IRMAA, that extra charge comes out too.
Timing matters. If Part B starts before your Social Security does, Medicare bills you at first. Once your benefits begin, the deduction takes over. Keep paying each bill until your statement shows the deduction.
Who gets a Medicare premium bill instead?
| Benefit deduction | Medicare Premium Bill | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | People getting Social Security or railroad benefits | People not getting those benefits yet |
| How often | Every month | Often every 3 months |
| 2026 standard amount | $202.90 a month | $608.70 per quarterly bill |
| Your step | None; it is automatic | Pay each bill, or set up Easy Pay |
The deduction runs on its own each month. A bill needs you to act each time, unless you set up Easy Pay.
You get a bill if you do not get Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits yet. Many people who keep working past 65, or who wait to claim benefits, are in this group.
The bill is called the Medicare Premium Bill. If you pay only the Part B premium, it usually comes every 3 months. That is the quarterly bill. If you also pay a Part A premium, you get a bill each month.
A quarterly bill covers 3 months at once. With the 2026 standard premium of $202.90, one quarterly bill is $608.70. Plan for that larger amount before the bill arrives.
How does Medicare Easy Pay work?
- Log in to your Medicare.gov accountOr call 1-800-MEDICARE for the paper form
- Enter your checking or savings accountUse an account you plan to keep open
- Keep paying bills by handUntil a bill shows Easy Pay is active
- Check your bank statement monthlyLook for the premium deduction
Medicare Easy Pay is an automatic payment from your checking or savings account. Medicare takes the premium out once a month.
Even if you get quarterly bills, Easy Pay takes one month at a time. So instead of $608.70 every 3 months, you would see $202.90 each month in 2026 for the standard premium.
To sign up, log in to your online Medicare.gov account. You can also mail Medicare a signed paper form. Call 1-800-MEDICARE to ask for that form.
Setup takes time. Keep paying your bills until your bill shows that Easy Pay is active. From then on, the bill says the amount will be taken from your account.
What other ways can you pay the bill?
You have other choices if you prefer to pay each bill yourself. Each one works for a monthly or a quarterly bill.
| Way to pay | How it works | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare.gov account | Pay online by card or bank account | Have your bill nearby |
| Your bank's bill pay | Your bank sends the payment | Include your Medicare Number |
| Check or money order | Mail it with the bill's payment slip | Mail it well before the due date |
| Card by mail | Fill in the card section of the slip | Write the numbers clearly |
Online and bank payments skip the mail, while mailed payments need extra days. Whichever way you choose, pay the full amount shown on the bill.
What happens if you miss a payment?
- First billDue date on the billPay the full amount shown
- Second billAfter a missed due datePast-due amount is added
- Delinquent billIf the second bill is unpaidLists a final due date
- Coverage can endAfter the final due dateIf the full amount is still unpaid
Medicare does not end coverage after one late bill. If you miss the due date, you get a second bill. It adds the past-due amount to the new amount.
If that is not paid, a delinquent bill follows. It lists a final due date. If the full amount is not paid by then, Part B coverage can end.
Getting Part B back can take time. You may need to sign up in the General Enrollment Period, January 1 – March 31. Coverage then starts the first day of the month after you sign up.
A gap can also bring a penalty. If you go a full 12 months or more without Part B, a 10% late enrollment penalty can apply. In 2026, 10% of the $202.90 standard premium is about $20 a month. Learn more in The Part B Late Enrollment Penalty: How It Works and How to Avoid It.
How can you avoid a missed payment?
- Use Medicare Easy PayThe premium leaves your bank account each month
- Mark each due dateDo it the day the bill arrives
- Set aside $202.90 a month in 2026So a $608.70 quarterly bill is covered
- Keep your address currentUpdate it with Social Security
Easy Pay removes the step of paying each bill. If you use it, check your bank statement each month for the deduction.
If you pay by hand, mark the due date on a calendar when the bill arrives. For quarterly bills in 2026, set aside $202.90 each month so $608.70 is ready.
If you move, update your address with Social Security. Medicare uses that address to mail your bills. Before you shut down a bank account used for Easy Pay, set up a new account first.
Watch for fraud too. Guard your Medicare Number. Check each bill and Medicare Summary Notice for charges you do not recognize, and report anything that looks wrong.
Can you get help paying the premium?
Some people with limited income can. Medicare Savings Programs are state programs that can pay the Part B premium for people who qualify. Learn more in Medicare Savings Programs: Help with Costs You Might Be Missing.
When a program starts paying, your deduction or bill stops. The switch can take a few months. Keep paying until your notice says the state has taken over.
Plan details and program rules vary by state and location. Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) offers one-on-one Medicare counseling. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE with any billing question.
Have questions? Call 1-877-443-3251 to talk it through with a licensed insurance agent. You never pay the agent; the plans they represent do, and the decision stays yours.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed this information.
What to do this week
- Find your latest Social Security statement or Medicare Premium Bill and check how your Part B premium is paid today.
- If you get bills, write each due date on your calendar the day the bill arrives.
- Log in to your Medicare.gov account and sign up for Medicare Easy Pay, or call 1-800-MEDICARE to ask for the paper form.
- Keep paying each bill by hand until a bill shows that Easy Pay is active.
- Confirm your mailing address with Social Security so every Medicare bill reaches you.
A real example
Medicare Disclaimer
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. Medicare has neither reviewed nor endorsed this information.
Frequently asked questions
Is my Part B premium taken out of my Social Security check?
Yes, if you get Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits. The premium is deducted from your monthly payment, and the deduction shows on your benefit statement. In 2026, the standard premium is $202.90 a month; Medicare sets it each year.
Why do I get a Medicare bill every 3 months?
If you do not get Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits and pay only the Part B premium, Medicare usually bills you every 3 months. With the 2026 standard premium of $202.90, a quarterly bill is $608.70.
How do I sign up for Medicare Easy Pay?
Log in to your online Medicare.gov account, or mail Medicare a signed paper form that you can request from 1-800-MEDICARE. Keep paying your bills until your bill shows that Easy Pay is active.
Does Easy Pay take out 3 months at once?
No. Easy Pay takes the premium from your bank account one month at a time, even if you were getting quarterly bills. For the 2026 standard premium, that is $202.90 a month.
What happens if I miss a Part B premium payment?
You get a second bill with the past-due amount added. If that is not paid, a delinquent bill lists a final due date. If the full amount is not paid by that date, Part B coverage can end.
Can I get help paying my Part B premium?
Medicare Savings Programs are state programs that can pay the Part B premium for people with limited income and resources who qualify. Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) or 1-800-MEDICARE can explain how to apply.
