Standard Medicare Part B premium 2026

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the standard Medicare Part B premium will rise from $185 per month in 2025 to $17.90 per month, or 9.7%, to $202.90 per month in 2026.

The increase marks the second-largest Part B premium increase in dollar terms, according to Mary Johnson, an independent Social Security and Medicare analyst. The highest monthly increase of $21.60 occurred in 2022.

Retirees may see this as “a continuation of relentless cost increases,” Johnson said via email.

Medicare Part B It is health insurance that covers both medically necessary and preventive services.

Part B premiums are usually deducted directly from Social Security checks. Any increase in these monthly premium payments will affect how much of an increase Social Security beneficiaries may see in their monthly checks in 2026.

The Social Security Administration announced a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment for 2026, which is expected to add an average of $56 per month to retirement benefits.

The 2026 Part B premium could be viewed by beneficiaries as “taking away a significant portion, if not most, of their COLA,” Johnson said.

The hold-harmless provision ensures that Social Security benefit payments do not decrease from one year to the next as a result of Medicare Part B premium increases.

However, other automatic deductions from Social Security checks for premiums tied to private Medicare Advantage insurance plans or Part D prescription drug coverage could reduce benefits, according to Johnson.

The standard Part B premium rate of $202.90 will apply to individuals with modified adjusted gross income of $109,000 or less and married couples filing taxes with a modified AGI of less than or equal to $218,000.

According to CMS, about 8% of Medicare Part B beneficiaries pay what’s called an income-related monthly adjustment amount, which is added to their monthly premium if their income is higher.

The annual deductible for Part B will be $283 in 2026, according to the agency; That’s a 10% increase from the $257 annual deductible in effect for 2025.

According to CMS, increases in both Medicare Part B premiums and deductibles are primarily due to “anticipated price changes and assumed utilization increases consistent with historical experience.” information note about price changes.

Income adjustment amounts are generally based on tax returns filed two years ago. Beneficiaries whose income has decreased or experienced hardship since then quality life eventcan declare it like this: submit form To the Social Security Institution.