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Original Medicare can leave cancer patients without an out-of-pocket cap
After the 2026 Part B deductible of $283, beneficiaries generally pay 20% of Medicare-approved Part B costs, with no annual spending ceiling.
Yahoo Finance highlights that Original Medicare does not include an annual out-of-pocket maximum for Part B, meaning beneficiaries can face unlimited cost exposure once they start paying coinsurance. Under Part B, the standard structure is a $283 deductible in 2026, after which Medicare generally covers 80% of the approved amount and the beneficiary is responsible for the remaining 20%.
In a cancer scenario described by Yahoo Finance, a patient diagnosed in February with stage III colon cancer undergoes months of infused chemotherapy, imaging, office visits, and follow-up scans billed under Part B. The outlet notes that after the deductible, the patient owes the 20% coinsurance portion, which can quickly become a large figure in a year with substantial treatment.
Yahoo Finance adds that Original Medicare beneficiaries without a Medigap policy can face no yearly limit on those Part B payments. It also notes that Medigap Plan G would eliminate the coinsurance exposure, but coverage may be permanently unattainable if someone misses the federal six-month enrollment window at age 65.