Part B's increase is projected to slow from 9.7% to 3.3%
After a $17.90 jump in 2026, the projected 2027 Part B increase is $6.60. What changed, and why the projection may still be low.
this story*****6.60
Projected monthly rise · vs $17.90 the year before
The standard Part B premium rose $17.90 in 2026, a 9.7% increase. The Trustees Report projects a $6.60 increase for 2027, or 3.3%. The confirmed figure comes from CMS around November 2026.
Two numbers, one year apart:
- 2026: the standard Part B premium rose $17.90 a month, from $185 to $202.90. A 9.7% increase.
- 2027: the Trustees Report projects a $6.60 increase, to $209.50. A 3.3% increase.
A smaller increase is still an increase. Your premium goes up either way — the question is by how much, and last year’s jump is the reason this one gets described as mild.
Why 2026 was so steep
Part B premiums are set to cover roughly a quarter of expected Part B spending. When projected spending rises quickly — more enrollees, higher utilization, expensive new drugs administered in clinics — the premium follows. The 2026 increase reflected that catch-up.
Why the 2027 projection may be light
The Trustees Report has recently come in below the premium CMS eventually announces. Private forecasters modelling the same spending trend put 2027 between $215 and $219 rather than $209.50.
If that turns out to be right, the increase is roughly double the projection.
The practical version
Budget for the higher end. If CMS comes in at $209.50, you were over-prepared by a few dollars a month. If it comes in at $217, you were not caught short in January.
Questions people ask
Does a smaller increase mean I pay less?
No. It means you pay more, but by less than last year. The premium still goes up.