Mississippi Medicare Costs 2026: Premiums, Deductibles, and How to Lower Them
The 2026 Medicare cost increases hit Mississippi beneficiaries harder than most. The state's median household income for seniors ranks among the lowest in the country, and every dollar deducted from a Social Security check for Medicare premiums is a dollar that doesn't go toward groceries, utilities, or medication. Here's what Mississippi beneficiaries are actually paying in 2026 and what can be done about it.
2026 Medicare Premiums and Deductibles
Part B premium: $202.90/month (up from $185.00 in 2025). This is deducted automatically from Social Security checks. For a beneficiary receiving $1,400/month in Social Security, that's 14.5% of their income going to one premium alone.
Part B annual deductible: $283.00 (up from $257.00). Under Original Medicare, the beneficiary generally pays this before Medicare covers its share of outpatient services; supplemental coverage may pay it.
Part A inpatient deductible: $1,736.00 per benefit period (up from $1,676.00). A new benefit period starts after 60 consecutive days without inpatient hospital or skilled nursing facility care, so two admissions in the same benefit period do not trigger two deductibles.
Part A premium (for people who do not qualify for premium-free Part A on their own or a spouse's work record): $565.00/month for fewer than 30 quarters of coverage, or $311.00/month for 30–39 quarters. Most people don't pay this because they or their spouse earned enough work credits, but it's a significant cost for those who didn't.
Part D prescription drug costs: the out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 under the Inflation Reduction Act's Part D redesign. The coverage gap ("donut hole") is fully eliminated. Monthly Part D premiums vary by plan but average around $40–$55 in Mississippi.
What Mississippi Beneficiaries Actually Pay Per Year
Adding up the unavoidable costs for a typical beneficiary on Original Medicare:
| Cost | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Part B premium | $2,434.80 |
| Part B deductible | $283.00 |
| Part D premium (average) | $540.00 |
| Part D out-of-pocket drugs | Up to $2,100.00 |
| Part A deductible (one admission) | $1,736.00 |
| Total potential | $7,093.80 |
On a $17,000/year Social Security income — typical for many Mississippi retirees — that's over 40% of gross income before rent, food, or transportation.
How Medicare Savings Programs Eliminate These Costs
Mississippi's Medicare Savings Programs exist specifically to address this. The three main programs:
QMB (2026 individual income below $1,380/month) covers:
- Part B premium: $0 instead of $202.90/month
- Part A premium: $0 (if applicable)
- Part B deductible: $0
- Part A deductible: $0
- All copays and coinsurance: $0
SLMB (2026 individual income below $1,646/month) covers:
- Part B premium: $0 instead of $202.90/month
QI (2026 individual income below $1,846/month) covers:
- Part B premium: $0 instead of $202.90/month
All three programs come with no asset test in Mississippi. Savings accounts, a home, a vehicle, retirement funds — none of it counts against eligibility. Only monthly income matters.
And all three automatically qualify the beneficiary for Full Extra Help with Part D prescription drugs, which means $0 Part D premium for benchmark plans, $0 deductible, and reduced copays ($5.10 generic / $12.65 brand-name in 2026).
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The Math That Most People Miss
The 2026 income limits already reflect Mississippi's $50 general income exclusion; don't subtract it again from the published limits. Earned income can get additional exclusions — $65 plus half the remainder.
Someone with $1,350/month in gross Social Security is below the 2026 QMB limit of $1,380 for an individual. QMB can save them $2,434.80/year in Part B premiums alone, plus thousands more in deductibles and copays.
What to Do
If your parent's Social Security check is under roughly $1,800/month, at least one of these programs likely applies. The Mississippi Medicare Savings Programs & Extra Help Guide walks through the exact income calculation for each program tier, including how couples are evaluated and what happens with earned income. It includes the eligibility worksheet and application documents checklist so nothing gets missed at the DOM regional office.
Get Your Free Mississippi — Medicare Savings Program Eligibility Checklist
Download the Mississippi — Medicare Savings Program Eligibility Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.