For 2026, the standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90 per month (up from $185.00) and the annual Part B deductible is $283. The biggest change beneficiaries will feel: the Part D out-of-pocket drug cap rises to $2,100 — once you hit it, you pay $0 for covered prescriptions for the rest of the year.
But the figures in the federal Medicare & You 2026 handbook only tell half the story on the Emerald Coast. Across Walton, Okaloosa, and Bay Counties, several Medicare Advantage carriers have trimmed plan availability and benefits for 2026 — which is why, for most coastal retirees and snowbirds we work with, Original Medicare paired with a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan and a stand-alone drug plan is the more stable choice.
Fuller Insurance has served Northwest Florida since 2007. Our licensed Medicare team helps you compare Original Medicare + Medigap against Medicare Advantage and enroll in the option that actually fits your doctors, your travel, and your budget.
Medicare plan disclosure: We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all your options. Fuller Insurance is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.
What the “Medicare & You 2026” Handbook Is
Each fall, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) mails the Medicare & You handbook to every household with a Medicare beneficiary. It summarizes Parts A, B, C, and D, your costs for the year, and your enrollment rights. It is a federal reference guide — not a plan you purchase. To turn it into a decision, you compare the plans actually sold in your ZIP code, which is where a local agent saves you time.
What Medicare Costs in 2026
The core Original Medicare numbers for 2026, verified against the official CMS figures:
- Part B premium: $202.90 per month (most beneficiaries); higher earners pay an income-related surcharge (IRMAA).
- Part B deductible: $283 per year, then you pay 20% of most covered services unless you have supplemental coverage.
- Part A hospital deductible: $1,736 per benefit period.
- Part D maximum deductible: $615 (plans vary).
- Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 — then $0 for covered drugs the rest of the year.
- Medicare Advantage in-network out-of-pocket maximum: $9,250 (a slight decrease from 2025).
Medicare also continues the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan in 2026 — an option to spread your out-of-pocket Part D drug costs into level monthly payments instead of paying it all at once at the pharmacy. One number is missing from the list above on purpose: Original Medicare by itself has no annual out-of-pocket maximum on Part A and B services. That open-ended 20% is the single biggest reason coastal retirees add supplemental coverage.
The Local Reality: Medicare Advantage Is Tightening on the Emerald Coast
For 2026, several Medicare Advantage carriers have reduced plan availability and narrowed PPO networks across the Florida Panhandle, and a few plans left the market entirely. If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, read your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) — it tells you exactly what changed for next year. If your plan dropped a benefit, raised costs, or removed your doctor, you can switch during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15–December 7) or the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1–March 31). For snowbirds and frequent travelers, a shrinking PPO network is the highest-impact change to watch — a plan that worked when your providers were in-network can stop working the moment that network tightens.
The Medigap-First Approach for Coastal Retirees
A Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan pairs with Original Medicare and covers much of what Parts A and B leave you to pay. Its advantage is freedom: any provider nationwide that accepts Medicare, no networks, no referrals, no prior authorizations, and predictable annual costs. For 30A-area retirees, snowbirds, and anyone who travels, that nationwide access is the whole point.
There is a Medigap fit at several price points:
- Plan G — the most complete coverage; you pay only the annual Part B deductible.
- Plan N — a lower premium in exchange for small copays at the doctor and ER.
- High-Deductible Plan G — the lowest premium, with a higher deductible before coverage kicks in.
Among the carriers we represent, Florida Blue prices its Medigap Plan G using issue-age rating — your premium is based on your age when you enroll and does not increase simply because you grow older (Florida Blue markets this as “Same Age Forever”). Paired with a stand-alone Part D drug plan and a Florida Blue dental plan, it gives you a complete, stable package that doesn’t reshuffle every January. All terms are subject to underwriting — ask us for current rates.
When Medicare Advantage Is the Right Call
Medicare Advantage is not the wrong answer for everyone. For beneficiaries whose doctors are in-network and who don’t travel much, a Medicare Advantage plan can offer a lower or $0 premium and extra benefits like dental, vision, hearing, and fitness. It should be a needs-based decision made with a local agent — not a TV-ad impulse. We represent Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, and Florida Blue for Medicare and will compare your real options side by side before you enroll.
Turning 65 on the Emerald Coast: Your Enrollment Windows
- Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): the 7 months around your 65th birthday — the 3 months before, your birthday month, and the 3 months after.
- Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15–December 7 — change your Part D or Medicare Advantage plan for the coming year.
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (OEP): January 1–March 31 — one switch if your Medicare Advantage plan isn’t working out.
- Medigap guaranteed-issue window: when you first enroll in Part B at 65, you get a one-time 6-month window to buy a Medicare Supplement with no medical underwriting. This is the best time to lock in a supplement — wait, and you may have to answer health questions later.
Talk With a Local Medicare Team
Fuller’s Medicare team — Garrett Fuller, Chris Jayne, and Trista Cordell — will review your situation at no cost to you. Garrett handles Medicare Advantage enrollments; Chris and Trista handle Medicare Supplement, drug, and dental plans. Call us at 850-622-5283 to talk through your options. We serve Santa Rosa Beach, 30A, Miramar Beach, Destin, Panama City Beach, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Freeport, DeFuniak Springs, and all of Walton, Okaloosa, and Bay Counties. Learn more about our Medicare coverage and services.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the “Medicare & You 2026” handbook?
It’s the official guide CMS mails each fall to Medicare households. It summarizes your coverage, costs, and rights for the year across Parts A, B, C, and D. It’s a federal reference — not a plan you buy. Choosing coverage means comparing the plans actually sold in your area.
How much does Medicare cost in 2026?
The standard Part B premium is $202.90 per month with a $283 annual deductible. The Part A hospital deductible is $1,736 per benefit period. The Part D out-of-pocket drug cap is $2,100. Higher-income beneficiaries pay an additional IRMAA surcharge on Parts B and D.
What is the new $2,100 Part D cap?
Starting in 2026, once your out-of-pocket costs for covered Part D drugs reach $2,100 for the year, you pay $0 for covered prescriptions for the rest of the year. The cap comes from the Inflation Reduction Act and is a major help for anyone taking high-cost medications.
Is Medigap or Medicare Advantage better in the Florida Panhandle?
It depends on your doctors, your travel, and your budget. With several Medicare Advantage carriers tightening networks across Walton, Okaloosa, and Bay Counties for 2026, many coastal retirees and snowbirds prefer a Medicare Supplement for nationwide provider access. Medicare Advantage can still win on premium and extra benefits if you stay local. We compare both with you.
When can I enroll in or switch my Medicare plan?
Your Initial Enrollment Period runs the 7 months around your 65th birthday. The Annual Enrollment Period is October 15–December 7 for Part D and Medicare Advantage changes. Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment is January 1–March 31. And you have a one-time 6-month guaranteed-issue window for a Medicare Supplement when you first enroll in Part B at 65.
Does Fuller Insurance charge for Medicare help?
No. We’re compensated by the carriers, so our guidance and annual plan reviews cost you nothing. You get a local specialist who answers the phone — at no added cost to you.
