Just realized why so many people hate quotes about Medicare being "affordable healthcare." Looked at the 2026 costs and yeah, they're brutal. Part B premiums jumped to $202.90 a month, up from $185 last year. And that's eating into what little Social Security bump people got.

But that's not even the worst part. The hospital deductible went from $1,676 to $1,736. Then if you're stuck in the hospital past 60 days, you're paying coinsurance daily. Days 61-90 are now $434 a day instead of $419. After 90 days you're burning through lifetime reserve days at $868 per day. People hate quotes like "Medicare is free" because reality hits different when you're actually dealing with these numbers.

The frustrating part is it keeps creeping up every year. But you can actually do something about it. Check if you qualify for a Medigap plan, review your coverage during fall enrollment, stick with in-network providers, and load up on preventive care while it's cheap or free. Not glamorous, but it helps. Anyone else just discovering how much this stuff costs?