2027 Medicare Part B Premium Projected to Rise to $209.50 a Month

The 2026 Social Security and Medicare Trustees Report, published June 9, 2026, projects that the standard monthly Medicare Part B premium will rise to $209.50 in 2027 — up $6.60, or about 3.5%, from 2026’s $202.90, according to coverage of the report. The Trustees’ figure is an early, official estimate; the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) typically confirms the final premium each November, so the number could still move before it becomes official.

This isn’t a new pattern. Part B premiums have climbed in nine of the last ten years, and the increases have regularly outpaced the annual Social Security COLA that is supposed to help retirees keep up with rising costs. A retiree on a level, predictable pension or Social Security check can budget around a known number — what’s harder to plan for is a healthcare premium that can move by a meaningfully larger percentage than the raise meant to cover it.

Some private forecasters expect it to run higher

The Trustees Report has a track record of coming in below where Part B premiums actually land, and several independent actuarial forecasters are already projecting a bigger jump for 2027 — into the $216 to $219 range, according to industry analysis. Retirees and near-retirees budgeting for next year may be better served planning toward the higher end of that range than assuming the Trustees’ $209.50 figure is the ceiling.

Why the premium tends to outpace the COLA

Part B premiums are usually deducted directly from a retiree’s Social Security check, which means a rising premium can quietly eat into some or all of a given year’s cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). That is a real risk heading into 2027: the Social Security COLA is currently trending below the roughly 3.8% estimate reported earlier this summer as inflation cools, while Part B premiums are still projected to rise faster than general inflation, as they have in most recent years. See our earlier coverage: 2027 Social Security COLA Projected Near 3.8% as Inflation Cools.

NoteThese are projections, not confirmed figures. The Trustees Report estimate and private forecaster ranges shown here are illustrative planning estimates, not a guarantee of what any individual’s premium or benefit will be in 2027.

What this means for you

For seniors and retirees living on a fixed income, this is the kind of quiet squeeze that erodes what’s left over each month for other priorities — including final expense or whole life premiums that protect a family from a funeral bill averaging $8,000 to $13,000. It’s a fair question to raise with anyone who worries that rising healthcare costs mean they can no longer afford coverage: locking in a permanent policy now means the death benefit — and on many plans, the premium itself — is fixed regardless of what Medicare, Social Security, or inflation do in the years ahead. Our final expense coverage page explains how that works, the cost guide shows what it typically runs, and the free calculator gives a quick estimate. If you’re not sure where to start, who we serve covers the households we work with most.

Sources

• Kiplinger: Medicare 2027 Projections — How Much Premiums Are Set to Rise
• FedTools: 2027 Medicare Part B Premium & Deductible Forecast

Frequently Asked Questions

How much will Medicare Part B cost in 2027?

The 2026 Medicare Trustees Report projects the standard Part B premium will rise to $209.50 a month in 2027, up $6.60 from 2026. Some private forecasters expect it to land higher, in the $216-$219 range. CMS confirms the official number each November.

Is the $209.50 figure final?

No. It is an early estimate from the Trustees Report. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) typically announces the confirmed premium each November for the following year.

Why does a rising Part B premium matter for retirement budgeting?

Part B premiums are usually deducted directly from a Social Security check, so an increase can offset some or all of a given year’s cost-of-living raise, tightening what is left in a fixed monthly budget.