A Medicare Part B giveback is a benefit some Medicare Advantage plans offer that lowers the Part B premium you pay each month. It is not a separate government program and it is not a check. The plan uses part of the money Medicare pays it to cover some of your Part B premium, so less comes out of your Social Security payment or your Medicare bill. To get one for 2027, you need Medicare Part A and Part B, you have to live in the service area of a plan that offers it, you have to pay your own Part B premium, and you have to join that plan during a valid enrollment window. Open enrollment for 2027 coverage runs October 15 to December 7, 2026.
The amount ranges from a few dollars a month up to, at most, the full standard Part B premium. That premium is $202.90 a month in 2026. CMS has not published the 2027 Part B premium yet (it had not as of November 9, 2026, and it usually announces it in mid-November), so any 2027 figure you see now is a projection, not the real premium. Our 2026 Part B premium guide covers the current number.
How the Part B Giveback Works
Medicare pays each Medicare Advantage plan a set amount per member. When a plan's bid comes in under Medicare's benchmark for that county, the plan gets part of the difference back as a "rebate," and it has to spend that rebate on extra benefits for members. A Part B premium reduction is one of the things a plan can choose to spend it on. Others include dental, vision, hearing, or lower copays.
That is why the giveback amount differs from plan to plan and county to county. The same company can offer $0 in one county and $100 in the next one over.
Here is what happens once you are enrolled:
- You still owe the Part B premium. Joining a Medicare Advantage plan does not stop your Part B premium. The giveback reduces it.
- Medicare applies the reduction. If your Part B premium comes out of your Social Security benefit, the amount taken out gets smaller, so your deposit gets bigger. If you pay Medicare directly, your premium bill shows the lower amount.
- It can take a few months to start. The plan, CMS, and Social Security all have to update their records. If the reduction shows up late, it is generally credited back to the month your coverage began.
- It ends when you leave the plan. Switch to another plan or go back to Original Medicare, and your premium goes back up to the standard amount (or to whatever your new plan's giveback is).
What a giveback looks like on paper
These examples use the 2026 standard premium, because the 2027 figure is not out yet.
| Giveback amount | 2026 standard Part B premium | What you would pay per month | Savings per year |
|---|
| $10 | $202.90 | $192.90 | $120 |
| $50 | $202.90 | $152.90 | $600 |
| $100 | $202.90 | $102.90 | $1,200 |
| $150 | $202.90 | $52.90 | $1,800 |
If you pay a higher Part B premium because of your income (IRMAA), a giveback applies to the standard portion only. It does not touch the income-related surcharge.
Who Can Get a Part B Giveback in 2027
| Requirement | What it means |
|---|
| Enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B | You need both to join any Medicare Advantage plan |
| Live in the plan's service area | Giveback plans are sold county by county, and many counties have none |
| Pay your own Part B premium | If your state pays it, the reduction goes to the state, not to you |
| Join during a valid enrollment period | Annual open enrollment, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, your first enrollment window, or a Special Enrollment Period |
| Join a plan that offers it | Only Medicare Advantage plans offer it. Original Medicare, Medigap, and stand-alone Part D plans do not |
Who usually gets nothing from a giveback
People on Medicaid or a Medicare Savings Program. If your state already pays your Part B premium through Medicaid or a Medicare Savings Program (QMB, SLMB, or QI), you are not paying the premium, so there is nothing to reduce. KFF notes that for these members, the rebate is paid to the state rather than to the person. Switching plans to chase a giveback gains you nothing in that case, and it could cost you a plan that fits your other needs. If you are not on a Medicare Savings Program yet but your income is limited, that program may pay your whole premium, which beats any giveback. See our Medicare Savings Program income limits guide.
People who want to keep Original Medicare. The giveback only exists inside Medicare Advantage. You cannot add it to Original Medicare with a Medigap policy.
People whose employer or retiree plan pays their Part B premium. If someone else pays the premium, ask that plan's benefits office how a reduction would be handled before you switch.
How Common Giveback Plans Are
KFF, which tracks Medicare Advantage plans every year, found that for 2026:
- 32% of individual Medicare Advantage plans offered some Part B premium reduction, the same share as 2025.
- 19% of Special Needs Plans offered one, down from 28% in 2025.
- Among individual plans offering a reduction, the amounts broke down like this:
| Monthly reduction (2026 plans) | Share of plans offering a giveback |
|---|
| $10 or less | 28% |
| $10.01 to $50 | 13% |
| $50.01 to $100 | 23% |
| $100 or more | 36% |
Source: KFF, "Medicare Advantage 2026 Spotlight: A First Look at Plan Premiums and Benefits" (December 2025).
A national count of 2027 giveback plans was not available as of November 9, 2026. What KFF has published for 2027 points to fewer choices overall. The average beneficiary can pick from 35 Medicare Advantage plans in 2027, down from 39 in 2026, and from 28 plans with drug coverage, down from 32. More than 4 million people are in a Medicare Advantage or drug plan that ends after 2026. If you have a giveback now, read your plan's Annual Notice of Change. Do not assume the amount carries over.
To see the actual 2027 giveback in your county, use the Medicare Plan Finder. It shows each plan's Part B premium reduction, or "not offered."
How to Find and Join a Giveback Plan for 2027
- Go to Medicare.gov's Plan Finder and enter your ZIP code. Choose Medicare Advantage plans.
- Enter your prescriptions and pharmacy. This is the step that tells you whether a giveback plan actually saves money once drug costs are counted.
- Open each plan's details and look for "Part B premium reduction" in the premium section. Write down the amount.
- Check your doctors. Call each doctor's office and ask if they are in network for that exact plan in 2027. A plan name can be the same while the network changes.
- Compare the full cost, not just the giveback. Look at the plan's own premium, copays, the out-of-pocket maximum, and drug coverage. (More on this below.)
- Enroll by December 7, 2026 for coverage that starts January 1, 2027. You can enroll on Medicare.gov, through 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), or directly with the plan.
- Watch your January and February statements. If the lower deduction has not shown up after a few months, call the plan first, then Social Security.
If you miss December 7, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31, 2027) lets someone already in a Medicare Advantage plan switch to a different one once. It does not let someone on Original Medicare join a Medicare Advantage plan for the first time. Our guide to switching Medicare Advantage plans walks through each window.
The Trade-Offs: When a Giveback Is a Bad Deal
A plan that spends its rebate on your Part B premium has less of that rebate left for other things. That is the basic trade. Here is what to weigh.
| Factor | Original Medicare + Medigap | Medicare Advantage with a giveback |
|---|
| Part B premium | Full standard premium | Reduced by the giveback amount |
| Doctors | Any provider that takes Medicare | Usually a network (HMO or PPO) |
| Prior authorization | Rare | Common for many services |
| Out-of-pocket limit | None in Original Medicare alone; Medigap covers most gaps | 2027 federal ceiling: $9,850 in network, $14,800 combined in and out of network |
| Drug coverage | Separate Part D plan | Often included, but some giveback plans have no drug coverage |
| Extra benefits | Generally none | Varies; may be thinner than a plan without a giveback |
The $9,850 and $14,800 figures are the highest out-of-pocket limits CMS allows for 2027. Many plans set theirs lower. See our 2027 Medicare Advantage out-of-pocket maximum guide.
A few situations where the math often goes against a giveback plan:
- You take expensive brand-name drugs. A $50 monthly giveback saves $600 a year. One drug on a higher tier can cost more than that. For 2027, the Part D out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs is $2,400, up from $2,100 in 2026.
- Your specialist is out of network. Paying out-of-network rates, or switching doctors mid-treatment, can wipe out the savings fast.
- You expect a hospital stay or surgery. Copays add up toward the plan's out-of-pocket maximum, which can be thousands of dollars.
- The plan has no drug coverage and you need it. Some giveback plans are built for people who get drugs elsewhere, such as through the VA or TRICARE. If you join one without other creditable drug coverage, you could face a late enrollment penalty later.
Where a giveback can make sense: you are healthy, take few or low-cost generic drugs, your doctors are in the plan's network, and you are already comfortable with Medicare Advantage rules. In that case the giveback is real money each month.
For a broader comparison, see Medicare Advantage vs Original Medicare and what is changing in Medicare Advantage plans for 2027.
Giveback Ads and the One-Time $90 Payment
TV and mail ads often describe the giveback as money "back in your Social Security check" or a benefit you are "owed." Neither is quite right. It is a feature of specific private plans, available only in some counties, and only while you are enrolled. Nobody has to call you to claim it. Medicare and Social Security will not call you to sell you a plan, and you should never give your Medicare number to an unsolicited caller.
This fall also brought a separate thing that gets mixed up with the giveback. In October 2026, the administration announced a one-time $90 payment to about 20 million people with Part B, paid from the Medicare Improvement Fund, according to news reports. That payment is not a giveback and does not lower your premium. Reports say Medicare Advantage members, people whose Part B premium Medicaid pays, and people paying IRMAA did not qualify. Questions about it go to Social Security, not to a Medicare Advantage plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Medicare Part B giveback?
It is a Part B premium reduction offered by some Medicare Advantage plans. The plan pays part of your Part B premium using rebate money it gets from Medicare, so you pay less each month. The amount is set by the plan and can be anywhere from a few dollars to the full standard premium.
How much is the Part B giveback in 2027?
It depends on the plan and your county. In 2026, KFF found that among individual plans offering a reduction, 36% offered $100 or more a month and 28% offered $10 or less. A plan cannot reduce your premium below zero, so the most anyone can get is the full standard Part B premium. That was $202.90 a month in 2026; CMS had not announced the 2027 premium as of November 9, 2026.
Do I get the giveback as a check?
No. It is not mailed as a separate payment. If your Part B premium comes out of your Social Security benefit, less is deducted, so your deposit is larger. If you pay Medicare directly, your premium bill is lower.
How long does it take for the giveback to start?
It can take a few months after your plan starts for the lower deduction to appear, because the plan, CMS, and Social Security all have to update records. Delayed reductions are generally credited back to your coverage start date.
Can I get a giveback if I have Medicaid or a Medicare Savings Program?
Usually not in your pocket. If the state pays your Part B premium, the reduction goes to the state because you are not paying the premium yourself. Your Medicare Savings Program already covers the whole premium, which is worth more than a partial giveback.
Can I get a giveback with Original Medicare or a Medigap plan?
No. Only Medicare Advantage plans offer a Part B premium reduction. Original Medicare, Medigap policies, and stand-alone Part D drug plans do not.
When can I switch to a giveback plan?
During annual open enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026, for coverage starting January 1, 2027. People already in a Medicare Advantage plan can also switch once from January 1 to March 31, 2027. Some life events, such as moving, open a Special Enrollment Period.
Is a giveback plan worth it?
Sometimes. Compare the giveback against the plan's drug costs, copays, out-of-pocket maximum, and network. A $50 giveback saves $600 a year, which a single expensive drug or an out-of-network specialist can easily cost. Use Medicare Plan Finder with your real prescriptions before you decide, or call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for free, unbiased help.
