Retirement
2027 Social Security COLA After Medicare Premiums: Your Real Raise
Short answer
the official 2027 COLA is 3.6%, announced October 14, 2026. On the average retired-worker benefit of $2,095 that is about $75 a month. The projected $6.60 increase in the Part B premium takes back roughly 9% of it, leaving about $69 more a month. The COLA is final; the Part B premium is not, because CMS has not yet announced the 2027 amount.
The math in one line
Net raise = (current benefit × COLA) − (new Part B premium − current Part B premium).
For 2026 the standard Part B premium is $202.90. The Medicare Trustees projected $209.50 for 2027, a $6.60 monthly increase ($79.20 a year). The COLA below is official; the Part B figure is an estimate until CMS publishes the final premium and the income-related (IRMAA) brackets.
Your net raise at the official 3.6% COLA
| Current monthly benefit | Raise at 3.6% | Projected Part B increase | Net raise | Part B share of raise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $36.00 | $6.60 | $29.40 | 18.33% |
| $1,500 | $54.00 | $6.60 | $47.40 | 12.22% |
| $2,095 (average retired worker) | $75.42 | $6.60 | $68.82 | 8.75% |
| $3,000 | $108.00 | $6.60 | $101.40 | 6.11% |
| $4,000 | $144.00 | $6.60 | $137.40 | 4.58% |
The share taken by the Part B increase is bigger for lower benefits: at a $1,000 check the projected $6.60 is about 18% of the raise; at the average benefit it is about 9%. If CMS announces a premium different from $209.50, replace $6.60 with the new premium minus $202.90.
Who is not covered by the hold-harmless rule
Most current beneficiaries are protected from a net decrease. Three groups are not:
- People newly enrolling in Part B in 2027.
- People who pay IRMAA (income above $109,000 single or $218,000 married filing jointly on the tax return from two years earlier; the 2027 thresholds have not been announced).
- People who pay premiums directly (for example, those who delay Social Security).
How to check your own numbers
- Look for your personal COLA notice in your my Social Security account. SSA sends notices in December, and says the 2027 Medicare premium appears in the Message Center from late November.
- When CMS posts the 2027 Part B premium and IRMAA brackets, update the Part B figure above.
- Run your income through the Medicare cost calculator to see whether you cross an IRMAA line.
Related: the 2027 COLA and other new Social Security numbers and the Medicare open enrollment guide.
Source: SSA, 2027 Cost-of-Living Adjustment fact sheet. Part B projection: Medicare Trustees report.
Estimates, not advice. CalcWyse figures use 2026 federal rules and the assumptions stated on this page (how we calculate). Your tax situation can differ. Confirm with a qualified tax professional or the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator before you act.
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