Medicare Advantage Cost Calculator 2026: Is That $0-Premium Plan Really Cheaper?
88% of 2026 Medicare Advantage plans carry a $0 premium — but the average out-of-pocket maximum is $6,153 (eHealth). Enter two real plans, describe your usage, and get the honest annual math before the December 7 deadline.
⏰ Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7, 2026. eHealth 2026 survey: 48% of enrollees don't know this window exists — comparison shoppers potentially saved $1,676/year.
1 · Your usage profile
2 · Plan A · your current plan (or the advertised one)
Part B ($202.90/mo) is separate and equal for both plans
2026 average: $6,153 (eHealth)
Dental + vision + hearing + OTC, if you'd actually use them
3 · Plan B · the alternative
Your 2026 cost comparison
$0Plan A — estimated annual cost
$0Plan B — estimated annual cost
$0difference per year
$0Plan A — worst-case year
$0Plan B — worst-case year
$0extras value in the cheaper plan
Cost breakdown
| Line | Plan A | Plan B |
|---|
Excluded on purpose: the Part B premium ($202.90/month, CMS) is identical under any Advantage plan, so it cancels out of the comparison.
Why the premium is the least important number
- The premium: 88% of 2026 plans had $0 premium (eHealth); average $4/month.
- The copays: uncapped until they hit the out-of-pocket maximum — thousands per year for typical users.
- The out-of-pocket maximum: 2026 average $6,153 (eHealth), up 7% from 2025. In a bad year it is the comparison.
The four traps people actually fall into
- Trap 1 — the $0-premium illusion. $0 + $6,153 cap vs. $28/mo + $4,200 cap: the second can win by $1,000+ in an ordinary year.
- Trap 2 — the network. Out-of-network care can cost full price. A cheap plan without your doctors is the most expensive plan.
- Trap 3 — extras as candy. Extras are shown separately so they can't disguise a worse medical deal.
- Trap 4 — autopilot. Plans change yearly. Comparison shoppers potentially saved $1,676/year (eHealth).
Frequently asked questions
- Is a $0-premium Medicare Advantage plan really free?
- No — $0 refers only to the plan's own monthly premium. You still pay the Part B premium ($202.90/month, CMS) plus copays up to the out-of-pocket maximum (average $6,153, eHealth).
- What does the out-of-pocket maximum mean?
- The most you pay in copays/coinsurance for covered services per year. It excludes premiums. Once hit, the plan pays 100% of covered care for the rest of the year.
- When can I change my plan?
- Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7, 2026. MA Open Enrollment: January 1 – March 31.
- High premium/low copays vs. $0 premium/high copays — which wins?
- Healthy year: $0-premium almost always wins. Heavy-care year: the lower-cap plan usually wins by thousands.
- Are dental, vision, and OTC allowances real money?
- Only if you'd use them anyway — treat as tiebreaker, not cash.
- Does comparison shopping actually save money?
- eHealth 2026 analysis: comparison shoppers potentially saved an average of $1,676/year.
Sources
eHealth 2026 open enrollment recap (Nasdaq): 88% $0-premium, $6,153 avg out-of-pocket max, $1,676 avg potential savings. CMS 2026: Part B $202.90/month, deductible $283 (Becker's; Center for Medicare Advocacy).
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Disclaimer: Planning estimates, not insurance advice. Verify every number in the plan's Summary of Benefits before enrolling.