What Part A costs in 2026
| Your Medicare-taxed work (or a spouse's) | Monthly Part A premium |
|---|---|
| 40 quarters or more | No premium |
| 30 to 39 quarters | $311 |
| Fewer than 30 quarters | $565 |
A premium is only part of the cost. Everyone with Part A pays the inpatient deductible of $1,736 per benefit period in 2026, plus coinsurance for long stays. If you have to buy Part A, you must also sign up for Part B. If you buy Part A late, the premium can go up 10% for twice the number of full years you could have had it but didn't. See Medicare Part A.
Florida public employees
In 2023, 88.5% of Florida's state and local government employees had Social Security coverage, according to the Congressional Research Service, and those jobs also pay the Medicare tax. On top of that, federal law has required the Medicare tax for nearly all state and local employees hired or rehired after March 31, 1986, even in jobs outside Social Security. So most Florida teachers, state employees and county and city workers earn premium-free Part A the same way private-sector workers do.
The group to check is the roughly 11% in jobs without Social Security coverage, especially anyone hired before April 1986 who worked only in such a job. They may qualify through a spouse's record or other work, or may have to buy Part A. Your Social Security statement at ssa.gov shows your Medicare-taxed earnings.
State Group Insurance retirees: the State's group Medicare Advantage (MA-PD) plans are open only to retirees enrolled in both Part A and Part B. If you stay in a State plan that pays after Medicare, it pays as if you had Part B. See Florida state retirees and Medicare.
Help paying Part A
If your income and savings are limited, QMB pays the Part A premium as well as Part B and Medicare cost sharing. Apply with DCF through ACCESS Florida, and try the savings programs screener. If you never worked in the U.S., see can I buy Part A if I never worked in the U.S.? For help weighing coverage choices, you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent.
Related questions
Never worked in the U.S.?
Buying Part A in Florida.
What does Medicare cost per month in Florida?
All the monthly pieces.
What is IRMAA?
Income-based premiums.
Sources
- Medicare.gov — Medicare costs (premium-free Part A; buying Part A requires Part B)
- CMS — 2026 Medicare Parts A & B premiums and deductibles
- eCFR — 42 CFR 406.32 and 406.33 (Part A premiums, reduced premium, late-enrollment increase)
- eCFR — 42 CFR 400.200 (definition of United States includes Puerto Rico)
- Social Security — Mandatory Medicare coverage for state and local government employees
- Congressional Research Service — Social Security Coverage of State and Local Government Employees (R46961), Table 1
- Florida Department of Management Services, MyBenefits — MA-PD plans for retirees (Part A and Part B required)
- Florida DCF — ESS Program Policy Manual, Chapter 2000 (QMB)
More questions in this guide
- If I never worked in the U.S., can I buy Medicare Part A in Florida?
- Will selling my home up north before moving to Florida raise my Medicare premiums?
- How do I lower my IRMAA after I retire?
- How much does Medicare cost per month in Florida?
- What is IRMAA and will I have to pay it?
Part of the guide: Medicare costs in 2026 for Floridians · All questions
Frequently asked questions
Can I use my spouse's work record for Part A?
Yes. If your spouse has 40 quarters of Medicare-taxed work, you can get Part A with no premium at 65 based on that record. Divorced spouses married at least 10 years and some widows and widowers can too.
Does work in Puerto Rico count?
Yes. For Medicare, the United States includes Puerto Rico, and jobs there pay the same Social Security and Medicare taxes, so those quarters count toward premium-free Part A just like work in Florida.
Does Florida help pay a Part A premium?
Florida's QMB program, one of the Medicare Savings Programs run through the Department of Children and Families, pays the Part A premium, along with Part B and Medicare cost sharing, for people with income up to 100% of the federal poverty level and limited assets.
Medicare in your Florida county
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