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The standard Medicare Part B premium will increase to $202.90 per month in 2026, an increase of $17.90, or 9.7%, from $185 per month in 2025, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
The increase marks the second-highest increase in Part B premiums in dollar terms, according to Mary Johnson, an independent Social Security and Medicare analyst. The largest increase of $21.60 per month occurred in 2022.
Retirees may see this as a “continuation of relentless cost increases,” Johnson said by email.
Medicare Part B is health insurance that covers both preventive and medically necessary services.
Part B premiums are generally deducted directly from Social Security checks. Any increase in those monthly premium payments affects the increase Social Security beneficiaries may see in their monthly checks in 2026.
The Social Security Administration has announced a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment for 2026, which is expected to add about $56 per month on average to retirement benefits.
Beneficiaries may find that the 2026 Part B premium “takes up a significant chunk or even most of their COLA,” Johnson said.
A hold harmless provision ensures that Social Security benefit payments do not decrease from year to year as a result of increases in Medicare Part B premiums.
This is a developing story. Update to get updates.
