Social Security's 2.8% COLA Falls Short of Covering Rising Healthcare Costs for Retirees
The Social Security Administration’s 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in 2026 is insufficient to cover rising healthcare expenses, particularly after the $18 increase in Medicare Part B premiums and supplemental coverage costs. The COLA calculation uses CPI-W, which underrepresents retiree spending on medical care compared to a more accurate experimental index like CPI-E.
Topics: COLA Inflation Medicare Retiree Spending