Quick Read Medicare Part B premiums rose 9.7% to $202.90 monthly while Social Security COLA increased only 2.8%. The hold harmless provision prevents net Social Security payments from declining for most retirees. Retirees earning over $109,000 annually pay Medicare premiums from $284.10 to $689.90 monthly through IRMAA. The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks. Get them here FREE. April is famously called the cruelest month, but January can pack some nasty surprises ...

Group 1 - Retirees will receive a 2.8% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) in 2026 to help Social Security benefits keep pace with inflation [1][7] - This year's COLA is larger than last year's 2.5% increase, providing retirees with a reasonable amount of extra money compared to past years [2] - A significant portion of the COLA increase will be offset by rising Medicare premiums, which will reduce the net benefit retirees receive [2][5] Group 2 - In 2026, baseline Medicare premiums for Part B will increase to $202.90 per month from $185.00 in 2025, resulting in a loss of $17.90 from the Social Security COLA [5] - For a typical retiree receiving around $2,000 in monthly benefits, losing $17.90 means nearly a third of the COLA will not reach their bank accounts [6] - The increase in Medicare premiums could force retirees to withdraw more from their 401(k) or other retirement plans to cover rising costs [8]