How to check Medicare status online?

Yes, your Medicare coverage renews automatically each year if you take no action.

How Renewal Works

• Original Medicare (Parts A and B): Renews automatically as long as you keep paying your monthly Part B premium.
• Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Part D: Renew automatically each year unless your insurance company stops offering the plan or cancels its contract with Medicare.
• Medigap (Supplement): Renews automatically as long as you pay your required monthly premium.

Important Exceptions

• Plan Cancellations: If your private insurer stops offering your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, you will receive a non-renewal notice in the mail and must choose a new plan.
• Premium Payments: Missing your required Part B or private plan premiums can result in a loss of coverage.
• Annual Changes: Even though renewal is automatic, costs and benefits often change. Review your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) mailer every fall.

Certain pandemic-era Medicare Telehealth flexibilities faced potential expiration, but Congress renewed general telehealth coverage through 2027 via the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026. However, several specific programs and benefit structures are shifting or concluding during 2026.

Key Medicare Changes and Program Ends in 2026

• Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) Model: CMS is ending the VBID "wellness/rewards" model in 2026, which plans previously used to offer extra non-clinical perks like healthy food and utility credits. Insurers are transitioning these to alternative structures like the Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI).
• WISeR Pilot Prior Authorization: Traditional Medicare launched a prior authorization pilot in Arizona, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, and Washington targeting 17 overused procedures.
• Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration: The temporary federal premium support program for Part D insurers concludes at the end of 2026, ahead of 2027 market rate adjustments.

Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to verify your personal Medicare coverage and benefits.

Who to Call Based on Your Needs

• For Personal Coverage and Benefits: Call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY: 1-877-486-2048) available 24/7 except federal holidays. You can also log into your secure online account on Medicare.gov.
• For Enrollment, Sign-Up, or Address Changes: Call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213.
• For Free Counseling and Plan Choices: Contact your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).
• For Provider Eligibility Verification: Healthcare providers can use the HIPAA Eligibility Transaction System (HETS) or contact their local Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC).

The standard Medicare baseline cost for most beneficiaries is $202.90 per month. However, because Medicare is divided into different parts, your total monthly premium depends on which plans you choose and your income level.

A breakdown of the average monthly premiums for each part of Medicare outlines these costs:

🏥 Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance)

• Average Premium: $0 per month for roughly 99% of enrollees.
• Details: If you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes while working for at least 10 years (40 quarters), you receive Part A premium-free. If you do not qualify, the premium can cost up to $565 per month.

🩺 Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance)

• Standard Premium: $202.90 per month.
• Details: The vast majority of beneficiaries pay this standard rate. If your modified adjusted gross income from two years prior is higher than $109,000 (single) or $218,000 (joint), you will pay an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) surcharge, which can bring the total monthly cost up to $689.90.

💊 Medicare Part D (Prescription Drug Plans)

• Average Premium: Approximately $34.50 per month.
• Details: Part D plans are sold by private insurance companies, meaning premiums vary widely depending on your specific plan and location. Like Part B, high earners are subject to additional IRMAA surcharges ranging from an extra $14.50 to $91.00 per month.

⚡ Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage)

• Average Premium: Approximately $14.37 per month.
• Details: Many Medicare Advantage plans offer a $0 monthly premium, though you must continue to pay your standard Part B premium to remain enrolled.

🩹 Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance)

• Average Premium: Typically ranges from $100 to $300+ per month.
• Details: These private plans supplement Original Medicare (Parts A and B) to help pay for out-of-pocket expenses. Prices vary greatly depending on your age, location, and the level of coverage you choose.

For official updates and personalized cost lookups, you can check the Medicare Costs Portal or review the detailed CMS Medicare Costs Guide.

Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover several major healthcare needs, most notably routine dental care, eye exams and glasses, hearing aids, long-term custodial care, care outside the U.S., and cosmetic surgery.

Key Uncovered Services

• Routine Dental Care: Original Medicare excludes routine cleanings, fillings, tooth extractions, root canals, and dentures.
• Vision Care: Routine eye exams, eyeglasses, and contact lenses are not covered, except for specific post-cataract surgery needs or certain diabetic eye exams.
• Hearing Aids: Routine hearing exams, fittings, and hearing aids are completely excluded from standard coverage.
• Long-Term Care: Medicare pays for short-term skilled nursing, but it does not cover ongoing custodial care (help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, or eating) in a nursing home or at home.
• Care Outside the U.S.: Medical treatment received while traveling or living abroad is generally not covered.
• Cosmetic Surgery: Elective procedures meant to alter appearance rather than treat a specific illness or injury are excluded.

You can review the official breakdown of excluded services directly on the Official Medicare Coverage Guide.