Medicare Premium Increases Offset a Significant Portion of 2026 Social Security COLA
The 2.5% Social Security COLA for 2026 added about $50/month to the average retiree's check, but Medicare Part B premiums consumed $18 of it, leaving a net gain of $32/month. Higher-income retirees in IRMAA tiers lost 50-72% of their COLA increase to premium hikes. This highlights the significant impact of healthcare costs on retirees' actual financial gains.
Topics: COLA Medicare premium increases retirement Social Security