Medicare 2026

Paying Medicare Premiums Without Social Security: Your Bill, Easy Pay, and the Dates That Matter

Most people never think about how their Medicare premiums get paid — the amount quietly comes out of their Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) check each month. But if you are not yet collecting those benefits, or you are a federal retiree receiving an Office of Personnel Management (OPM) annuity, Medicare will send you a bill instead. Knowing how that bill works, when it arrives, and how to pay it on time can save you from late fees, past-due notices, or, in the worst case, losing coverage.

Why some people get a bill and others don't

Medicare and the Social Security Administration have a long-standing arrangement: when you are drawing Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits, your Part B premium (and your Part D income-related adjustment, if you owe one) comes straight out of that monthly payment. You never see a bill.

If you are not yet drawing those benefits — maybe you are still working, you delayed Social Security to let it grow, or you are a federal retiree receiving an OPM annuity — there is no benefit payment for Medicare to tap. In that case, Medicare bills you directly.

One note for federal retirees: if you receive an OPM annuity and are not entitled to Social Security or RRB benefits, Part B premiums are not automatically deducted from your annuity. You can, however, request that deduction by contacting a local Social Security office.

What the Medicare Premium Bill (CMS-500) covers

The CMS-500 is the paper (or electronic) bill Medicare sends when you owe:

• A Part A premium (most people get Part A premium-free, but some pay for it),
• A Part B premium, or
• A Part D income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA) — the surcharge some higher-income beneficiaries pay on top of their plan's Part D premium.

If you are billed only for Part B, your bill typically arrives every three months. If you pay a Part A premium, owe a Part D IRMAA, or are enrolled in Medicare Easy Pay, you get a bill every month.

The dates to remember

• Bills arrive around the 10th of the month.
• Payment is due by the 25th.
• Medicare asks that you send payment at least 5 business days before the due date so it posts on time.
• If you use Easy Pay, the automatic deduction is pulled on the 20th of the month.

If you miss a payment, the unpaid amount is added to your next bill as a past-due balance. If a bill arrives stamped "Delinquent Bill" and is not paid in full by its due date, you can lose your Medicare coverage.

Under federal rules for Part B (42 CFR 408.8), the grace period ends on the last day of the third month after the billing month. If overdue premiums are not paid by then, that date becomes your termination date. CMS can reinstate Part B without a break in coverage if you show "good cause" — circumstances you could not control or foresee — and pay all overdue premiums within three calendar months after the termination date.

Four ways to pay

1. Your Medicare.gov account. Log in and pay by credit card, debit card, HSA card, or directly from a checking or savings account. You can see your balance, payment history, and billing status in one place. 2. Medicare Easy Pay. This is a free service that automatically deducts your premium from a checking or savings account on the 20th of each month. It can take 6 to 8 weeks to start, so keep paying by another method until your first automatic deduction shows up. 3. Your bank's online bill pay. Set Medicare up as a payee through your bank. Build in several business days for the payment to arrive. 4. Mail. Return the payment coupon with a check or money order in the envelope provided.

Whichever method you choose, do not wait until the 25th to pay. Mail and bank transfers take time.

A few other things worth knowing

Annual Enrollment (Open Enrollment) for 2027 coverage runs October 15 – December 7, 2026, with new choices taking effect January 1, 2027. This is when you can switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, or change Part D plans.

Program numbers that are set for 2027: the Part D out-of-pocket cap will be $2,400 (up from $2,100 in 2026), the maximum Part D deductible any plan may charge is $700, and the Part D base beneficiary premium — the national figure used to calculate the late-enrollment penalty — is $41.33. (Actual plan premiums are set by each plan.) Social Security announced a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment for benefits payable beginning January 2027.

The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible and the IRMAA income brackets have not yet been announced. CMS announces those figures in the fall, usually in November. Check Medicare.gov for the official numbers when they are released.

If you have Medicaid or Extra Help: since 2025, you have a monthly Special Enrollment Period to move to Original Medicare with a stand-alone Part D plan, or to switch stand-alone Part D plans. Full-benefit dual-eligible individuals can also enroll in an integrated D-SNP in any month.

Choosing between Original Medicare (often with a Medigap policy and a stand-alone Part D plan) and Medicare Advantage is a personal decision. Original Medicare plus Medigap tends to offer broad provider access and predictable cost-sharing, often at a higher monthly cost. Medicare Advantage bundles coverage, frequently includes extras, and may have lower premiums, but typically uses networks and prior authorization. Weigh what matters most to you.

Where can you get help with Medicare questions?

For official information, forms, and to manage your bill, visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.