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Will Medicare Part B Eat Your 2027 Social Security Raise?
How the math works
Say your benefit is $2,000 and the 2027 COLA lands at 3.5%. Your gross check rises about $70, to $2,070. If the Part B premium rises, that increase comes straight off the top. A $15 premium jump would leave you a net raise of about $55 — the COLA headline was 3.5%, but your take-home raise is closer to 2.75%.
| 2026 | 2027 (illustration at 3.5% COLA) | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross monthly benefit | $2,000 | $2,070 |
| Part B premium | $202.90 | Announced in fall 2026 |
| What lands in the bank | $1,797 | $2,070 minus the new premium |
The protection most people never hear about
A rule called hold harmless protects most beneficiaries: for people whose premiums are deducted from their check, a Part B increase cannot reduce the dollar amount of the Social Security check below what it was the year before. In high-premium years the increase gets capped for them. It does not protect new enrollees or higher-income beneficiaries paying income-related surcharges (which in 2026 run from $284.10 up to $689.90 per month).
What to watch this fall
- October 14: the 2027 COLA — your gross raise.
- Later in the fall: the CMS announcement of the 2027 Part B premium — what comes off the top.
- December: your official SSA notice showing the exact net amount for January.
Join the free CheckDay beta — your 2027 COLA number by email on October 14, plus plain-English alerts when the rules change.
Join the free beta →