Does Original Medicare have an out-of-pocket maximum?

Original Medicare (Part A hospital and Part B medical, run by the government) does not have an annual out-of-pocket maximum on its own. After you meet the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026), you generally pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount for many services, and there is no yearly cap on that 20 percent. This is one reason many people who choose Original Medicare also buy a Medigap policy (Medicare Supplement, private coverage that fills in those gaps) to make their costs more predictable. By contrast, Medicare Advantage plans (Part C, your benefits through a private plan) are required to include a yearly out-of-pocket maximum for covered medical services. So if a built-in spending cap matters to you, Original Medicare alone does not provide one, but pairing it with a Medigap policy or choosing Medicare Advantage can.