No. A $0 premium means the Medicare Advantage plan charges no additional monthly plan premium. You generally still pay for Part B and may owe other costs when you receive care. Private plans receive payments from Medicare to provide Part A and Part B benefits, which helps some offer a $0 plan premium.

What You May Still Pay

Even with a $0 plan premium, you may pay:

  • The monthly Part B premium
  • A medical or drug deductible
  • Copayments for doctors, specialists, hospitals, tests, and therapy
  • Coinsurance for services such as durable medical equipment
  • Prescription drug costs
  • Out-of-network charges when the plan allows out-of-network care
  • The full cost of noncovered services

Some plans help pay part of the Part B premium, but the amount and eligibility vary.

Is There a Yearly Limit on Medical Costs?

Medicare Advantage plans have a yearly out-of-pocket limit for covered Part A and Part B services. Not all spending counts toward the limit. Premiums and noncovered care generally do not count. Covered Part D drugs have a separate spending limit.

How to Compare $0-Premium Plans

Estimate what you would pay in a typical year and a year when you need more care. Check hospital, specialist, and therapy costs. Also check the covered-drug list, pharmacies, provider network, requirements for approval before care, and yearly spending limit.

Extra benefits may be useful, but review their frequency, dollar allowance, network, and eligibility rules.

Hypothetical year: a $0-premium Advantage plan plus a full year at the 2026 standard Part B premium costs $2,434.80 in premiums before care. Add $900 in covered medical copays and $300 in covered drug costs, and the total is $3,634.80. This assumes no premium assistance, rebate or income adjustment.

Medicare policy sources last checked: October 8, 2026.