The Medicare Part B premium for 2027 is projected to be $209.50 a month, up from $202.90 in 2026. That is an increase of $6.60 a month, or about $79 a year. This number is a projection from the Medicare Trustees, not the final price. Medicare usually announces the official premium in November. Here is what we know now, how it could affect your Social Security check, and what you can do to plan ahead.
What Is the Projected 2027 Medicare Part B Premium?
Part B is the part of Medicare that covers doctor visits, outpatient care, lab tests, and medical equipment. Most people pay a monthly premium for it. In June 2026, the Medicare Trustees released their yearly report on Medicare’s money. That report projects a standard Part B premium of $209.50 a month in 2027.
That would be a much smaller jump than this year’s. The premium went from $185.00 in 2025 to $202.90 in 2026, a rise of almost 10%. The projected rise for 2027 is about 3%. Some outside experts think the final number could be higher, in the range of $216 to $219 a month. We will not know for sure until Medicare makes it official.
The chart above shows the trend. The premium has gone up every year since 2023. Here is how the standard Part B premium has changed over the last few years:
- 2023: $164.90 a month
- 2024: $174.70 a month
- 2025: $185.00 a month
- 2026: $202.90 a month
- 2027: $209.50 a month (projected)
What About the 2027 Part B Deductible?
The Part B deductible is what you pay each year before Part B starts to pay its share. In 2026, the deductible is $283, up from $257 in 2025. Reports based on the Trustees’ numbers put the 2027 deductible near $292. Like the premium, that number is not final yet.
After you meet the deductible, you usually pay 20% of the cost for most Part B services. Original Medicare has no yearly limit on that 20%. That is one reason many people add a Medigap plan or choose a Medicare Advantage plan. Both can help cap or lower what you pay.
When Will the Official 2027 Premium Be Announced?
Medicare usually shares next year’s Part B premium and deductible in the fall. Last year, the 2026 numbers came out on November 14, 2025. The 2027 numbers will most likely come out in November 2026, too. Medicare will also share the new income brackets for higher earners at the same time.
Your Social Security raise for 2027 comes out first. The Social Security Administration is set to announce the 2027 cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, on October 14, 2026. The Senior Citizens League estimates it will be about 3.5%, up from 2.8% for 2026. Your raise and your new Part B premium together decide how much your check changes in January.
How the Part B Premium Affects Your Social Security Check
If you get Social Security, your Part B premium is usually taken out of your check before it reaches you. So when the premium goes up, your check can feel smaller than you expected. A $6.60 increase means $6.60 less of your COLA raise lands in your bank account each month.
There is a rule that protects many people. It is called the “hold harmless” rule. For most people who have the premium taken from their Social Security check, the Part B increase cannot be bigger than their COLA raise in dollars. This means your net check should not go down from one year to the next because of Part B alone.
The hold harmless rule does not cover everyone. It does not apply to people who pay higher premiums because of their income. It also does not apply to people who are new to Medicare or who do not have the premium taken from their check. You can learn more about this in our post on Medicare and your Social Security check.
Will You Pay More Than the Standard Premium?
Most people pay the standard premium. People with higher incomes pay more, through a charge called IRMAA. In 2026, IRMAA starts for people whose income is above $109,000 for a single person or $218,000 for a married couple filing together. The highest 2026 Part B premium is $689.90 a month.
IRMAA is based on your tax return from two years before. For 2027, Medicare will look at your 2025 tax return. If your income has dropped because you retired or stopped working, you may be able to ask Social Security to use newer numbers. Our guide to smart ways to avoid the IRMAA surcharge explains how.
Ways to Lower What You Pay for Part B
You may have more options than you think. Some programs and plans can cut what you pay for Part B each month. Here are the main ones to look at:
- Medicare Savings Programs: If your income and savings are limited, your state may pay your Part B premium for you. Learn more in our post on Medicare savings programs.
- Part B giveback plans: Some Medicare Advantage plans pay back part of your Part B premium each month. These plans are not offered everywhere. Our Part B giveback guide explains how they work.
- An IRMAA appeal: If a life event lowered your income, you can ask to have your IRMAA cut or removed.
At We Can Help You, we also offer free Social Security reports and Medicare education. Seeing your full retirement picture can help you plan for these costs. A small change in your premium is easier to handle when you know it is coming.
How to Plan Your 2027 Medicare Budget Now
You do not need to wait for the final numbers to start planning. A simple guess now can keep January from being a surprise. Start with what you pay in 2026, then add a small cushion. For Part B alone, plan for about $7 to $16 more each month, based on the range of forecasts we have today.
Here is a simple example. Say your Social Security check is $2,000 a month before Medicare is taken out. A 3.5% COLA would raise it by $70 a month. If the Part B premium goes up by $6.60, about $63 of that raise would reach you each month. Your own numbers will be different, so use this only as a rough guide.
Do not forget your other Medicare costs. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, a drug plan, or a Medigap plan, those premiums can change on January 1, too. Your plan’s Annual Notice of Change shows your new costs for 2027. Add them all up to see your full monthly cost.
Conclusion
The Medicare Part B premium for 2027 is projected at $209.50 a month, up $6.60 from $202.90 in 2026, with the deductible expected near $292. The final numbers should come out in November 2026, after the Social Security COLA is announced on October 14. Until then, plan for a small rise, check if you pay IRMAA, and see if a savings program or giveback plan could help. We Can Help You is a nonprofit, and our free tools and local agents can help you plan for 2027. Find a licensed Medicare agent near you, or request your free Social Security consultation.
