Increase in the Medicare Part B Premium in 2026
The loose cannon here is healthcare costs which impacts everyone in the nation. In this case, I am talking about Medicare Part B and how an increase in the Medicare Part B will reduce the Social Security increase in 2026.
Discovered a new site on Social Security and Medicare offering up information on the programs. I believe it will be beneficial to just about everyone. besides those who are receiving Social Security benefits. It is on my list of reads so as to understand what is going on with S.S. and how governmental decisions impact it. The Social Security Report also links to the Village News where there appears to be a number of people who write-in about the Social Security program. While this (Village News) may not seem important, the Social Security Report pulls information from these articles as submitted by various people.
Angry Bear intends to follow both sites. The information coming from the Social Security Report site and also the Village News. The latest? Medicare Part B will increase by 11.6%. The gain coming from a 2.7% increase in S.S. will be decreased. The numbers are reported on the Social Security Report.
“Expect a Substantial Increase in the Medicare Part B Premium in 2026,” – Villages-news.com
The AMAC Foundation Social Security Advisory Service
The Social Security Trustees Report for 2025 projects a Medicare Part B increase of 11.6% in 2026. The premium is estimated to be $206.50. This is a $21.50 increase, the largest since 2022. In 2022, the premium rose by $21.60, a 14.5% increase.
The Medicare Part B premium increase will reduce the average cost-of-living increase by 40%. This is based on the average Social Security benefit being $2006.69. With an estimated 2.7% cost-of-living increase, the payment will rise to $2060.87, or an increase of $54.18. The increase in Medicare Part B will reduce this gain to $32.68.
There is a rule known as “The Hold Harmless Rule” which prevents an increase to the Medicare Part B premium from reducing the amount of your payment. It will protect you as long as you were entitled to Social Security benefits in November and December of 2025. The Medicare Part B premium will be or was deducted from Social Security benefits in November 2025 through January 2026. You are not affected by the Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA). You do not receive a COLA increase large enough to cover the increased premium.
The Hold Harmless Rule will not protect you if you are enrolling in Medicare for the first time or if you switch benefits. For example, you switch from your retirement benefit to your survivor benefit. People on Medicaid will be charged the full increase. Should you lose your Medicaid, the full current premium will be deducted from your Social Security payment. For more information, read the article by Ash Marwah, “Pay attention to your Social Security checks,” Villages-News.com.