Medicare Part B in Texas: What It Covers and What It Costs in 2026

Part A is Medicare's hospital insurance. Part B covers most of the care you get outside a hospital bed: checkups, specialist visits, lab work, imaging, outpatient procedures, and medical equipment. For most Texans on Original Medicare, it's the part you'll use most often, and the part with a monthly bill attached.

What Part B covers

• Doctor and specialist visits to diagnose or treat a medical condition
• Outpatient care, such as same-day surgery, emergency room visits, and lab and imaging tests
• Preventive services, like flu shots, cancer screenings, and a yearly wellness visit
• Ambulance services when other transportation could endanger your health
• Durable medical equipment and oxygen, from walkers and CPAP machines to hospital beds
• Mental health and substance use disorder services
• Limited outpatient drugs, such as certain injections given in a clinic, plus insulin used with a pump, which is capped at $35 a month
• Clinical research studies

For details on screenings, see our guide to Part B preventive care. For equipment, see how Part B covers medical equipment. For therapy, counseling, and telehealth visits, see what Medicare covers for mental health.

What Part B costs in 2026

Part B cost (2026)	Amount
Standard monthly premium	$202.90
Yearly deductible	$283
Coinsurance after the deductible	Generally 20% of the Medicare-approved amount
Yearly out-of-pocket limit	None under Original Medicare

These are 2026 figures. CMS announces the next year's premium and deductible each fall, and 2027 amounts take effect January 1.

Most people never see a Part B bill because the premium comes out of their Social Security check. If you aren't collecting Social Security yet, Medicare mails a bill, and you can pay it online, through automatic bank withdrawals, or by mail.

Higher incomes pay more

If your income is above certain limits, you pay an extra amount called the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA). For 2026, Social Security generally uses your 2024 tax return.

2024 income (individual)	2024 income (joint)	2026 monthly premium
$109,000 or less	$218,000 or less	$202.90
$109,001–$137,000	$218,001–$274,000	$284.10
$137,001–$171,000	$274,001–$342,000	$405.80
$171,001–$205,000	$342,001–$410,000	$527.50
$205,001–$499,999	$410,001–$749,999	$649.20
$500,000 or more	$750,000 or more	$689.90

If retirement or another life change lowered your income, you can ask for a new decision. Our guide to appealing IRMAA walks through it.

The 20% gap

Part B's biggest weakness is that the 20% coinsurance has no cap under Original Medicare. A long stretch of outpatient treatment, such as chemotherapy or dialysis, can add up quickly. That's why most people pair Part B with something else:

• A Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy, which can pay some or all of the 20%. In Texas, the companies that sell them are licensed by the Texas Department of Insurance.
• A Medicare Advantage plan, which uses copays and has a yearly out-of-pocket limit
• Employer or retiree coverage that works alongside Medicare
• Texas Medicaid or a Medicare Savings Program, for people who qualify

Why the choice matters in Texas

Texas is a big state, and in many rural counties the nearest specialist can be a long drive away. With Original Medicare, you can see any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that accepts Medicare, usually without a referral. Medicare Advantage plans generally require you to use providers in the plan's network for non-emergency care. If you split time between Texas and another state, or travel to Houston, Dallas, or San Antonio for specialty care, that difference matters. Our Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare guide goes deeper.

Military retirees should know one more rule: TRICARE For Life requires both Part A and Part B. See our TRICARE For Life guide.

What Part B doesn't cover

• Most prescriptions you fill at a pharmacy. That's Part D. See 2027 Part D premiums in Texas.
• Routine dental care, eye exams for glasses, and hearing aids
• Long-term custodial care
• Care outside the U.S., in most cases

Some Medicare Advantage plans include dental, vision, or hearing benefits that Original Medicare doesn't cover, so it's worth comparing what's offered where you live.

Free local help

Texas's free Medicare counseling program, the Health Information, Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP), offers unbiased help at 1-800-252-9240. If you'd rather talk it through in Spanish, ask whether a Spanish-speaking counselor is available. To sign up for Part B, see how to sign up for Medicare Parts A and B in Texas.