Medicare Part B Deductible: How it works

The Medicare Part B deductible is the amount you must pay out of pocket each year before Medicare Part B (80% doctor/physician) starts covering your services.

How much is it?

The Medicare Part B deductible fluctuates annually and is $257 as of 2025. After your deductible is met, you typically pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount. If you have a Medigap insurance plan, it pays the 20% for you, so you have 100% coverage under Medicare Parts A and B. Let me help you find the right Medicare Supplement “Medigap” plan for your situation! Please call 888-901-4870.

How do I pay it?

Here is the answer, along with the recommended course of action. The Medicare Part B deductible is applied on a first-received-claim basis, with the first claim applied to the deductible. This means that when the New Year starts, Medicare will use your first claim or claims received to your deductible until the full deductible has been satisfied.

One thing to note is that the first claim Medicare receives may or may not necessarily be from the first doctor you saw in the New Year.

Your Medicare Summary Notice will show which provider’s services Medicare applied to the deductible, the amount of the deductible owed to that provider, and how much of the deductible has been met for the year. You will receive a bill from the provider for the amount owed.

Once the deductible has been fully satisfied, the subsequent summaries will indicate your deductible has been met for the year, and Medicare will start to pay its portion of new claims as they come in.

Your provider may request the Medicare Part B deductible amount at the time of your visit, but the status of your deductible may not be known at the time of your appointment. I suggest waiting until you receive your summary notice before making any payments. Have the provider bill you before you pay so you can ensure the amount billed matches the amount shown on the summary notice.

Need more information?

If you would like more information or have questions, please call me directly at (888) 901-4870 or leave your information on the contact us page.

Medicare Part B Deductible