The Medicare Part B premium is the one Medicare cost almost every senior pays. It changes every year, and most people have no idea what they paid five years ago, let alone 15. Here is the whole picture from 2010 through today, with every spike and flat year explained.
The short answer
The standard Part B premium climbed from $110.50 a month in 2010 to $202.90 a month in 2026. That is an 84% increase over 16 years. The yearly average works out to just under 4%, roughly in line with healthcare inflation.
Not every year moved up. Three years in a row (2013, 2014, 2015) the premium held flat because of a rule called hold harmless. One year (2012) it actually dropped. And a few years, like 2022 and 2026, saw big jumps for very specific reasons.
Year by year table
| Year | Standard Part B Premium | Change from prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | $110.50 | Baseline |
| 2011 | $115.40 | +$4.90 (+4.4%) |
| 2012 | $99.90 | -$15.50 (-13.4%) |
| 2013 | $104.90 | +$5.00 (+5.0%) |
| 2014 | $104.90 | No change |
| 2015 | $104.90 | No change |
| 2016 | $121.80 | +$16.90 (+16.1%) |
| 2017 | $134.00 | +$12.20 (+10.0%) |
| 2018 | $134.00 | No change |
| 2019 | $135.50 | +$1.50 (+1.1%) |
| 2020 | $144.60 | +$9.10 (+6.7%) |
| 2021 | $148.50 | +$3.90 (+2.7%) |
| 2022 | $170.10 | +$21.60 (+14.5%) |
| 2023 | $164.90 | -$5.20 (-3.1%) |
| 2024 | $174.70 | +$9.80 (+5.9%) |
| 2025 | $185.00 | +$10.30 (+5.9%) |
| 2026 | $202.90 | +$17.90 (+9.7%) |
| 2027 | To be announced by CMS in November 2026 | Pending |
Why 2012 dropped
2012 is the only year on the list where the premium went down. The driver was a Social Security COLA that came in bigger than expected, which triggered a formula reset. CMS also had reserves it could use to lower the premium that year. That has not happened again since.
The flat years: 2013 to 2015
Three years in a row the premium stayed at $104.90. That is the hold harmless rule in action. The rule says the dollar increase in Part B cannot be more than the dollar increase in your Social Security check for most beneficiaries.
Social Security COLAs in those years were tiny or zero. 2010 had a 0% COLA. 2015 had a 1.7% COLA. The Part B premium could not catch up.
The 2016 and 2017 catch-up
Hold harmless creates a strange side effect. The seniors it protects do not pay the full increase. New enrollees and higher-income seniors pay the full load for everyone. After the flat years, 2016 jumped 16.1% to make up ground. 2017 jumped another 10%.
If you turned 65 in 2016 or 2017, your first premium was higher than what long-time enrollees paid. That created some confusion that still comes up today.
The 2022 spike
The $21.60 jump in 2022 is the biggest in dollar terms in the history of the program. CMS set the premium high to prepare for a new Alzheimer's drug called Aduhelm, which Medicare was expected to cover. The drug's price was later cut, and Medicare limited coverage. The excess money was credited back by lowering the 2023 premium.
That is why 2023 is one of only two years on the chart where the premium dropped. It was a correction, not a change in trend.
The 2026 jump
The 9.7% rise in 2026 was driven by higher spending projections across the program. CMS cited expected use of newer drugs, outpatient services, and higher provider rates. The jump brought the standard premium to $202.90, the first time it has been over $200.
What drives premium changes
Three forces push the Part B premium every year.
The first is projected program spending. Part B is funded 25% by beneficiaries and 75% by general tax revenue. When total spending goes up, the 25% share goes up too.
The second is the Social Security COLA. The hold harmless rule ties the two together for most seniors.
The third is one-off events. New expensive drugs, pandemic shifts, and legal changes can all trigger an unusual bump.
IRMAA: higher earners pay more
Not every senior pays the standard premium. If your modified adjusted gross income is above about $92,000 as a single filer or $184,000 as a married couple, you pay more. The extra amount is called IRMAA, short for Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount.
In 2026 the IRMAA surcharges on Part B range from $74.20 a month to $443.00 a month, depending on where your income lands. Social Security uses your tax return from two years ago to figure it out. So your 2026 premium is based on your 2024 income.
If you had a big one-time income year (sold a house, took a lump sum pension), you can appeal IRMAA. For a step-by-step, see our 2027 Medicare changes guide.
What about 2027?
The 2027 standard premium will be announced by CMS in November 2026. The release normally comes out in the second or third week of November. Any number before then is a guess.
Trustees' reports project continued growth in the 5% to 7% range on average, but that is a forecast, not a fact. Historical pattern says expect an increase, barring a major policy change.
How this affects your Medicare budget
Part B is only one piece of your Medicare costs. Add your Part D drug premium, your Medigap or Advantage plan premium, and any out-of-pocket spending.
A healthy senior on Original Medicare plus Plan G and Part D is probably spending around $400 to $500 a month in total premiums in 2026. Advantage enrollees pay less in premium but face copays. See our full Medicare cost breakdown for the whole picture.
Bottom line
The Part B premium is a moving target but a predictable one. Over 16 years it has roughly doubled. The year to year swings come from a mix of program spending, Social Security COLAs, and the occasional surprise. Expect the trend to continue, with the official 2027 number landing in November 2026.
For the official premium page, see Medicare.gov's cost page.
Frequently asked questions
How much has the Medicare Part B premium increased since 2010?
From $110.50 in 2010 to $202.90 in 2026. About 84% over 16 years, or 4% a year on average.
What year had the biggest Part B premium increase?
2022, up $21.60 to $170.10. That was 14.5% in one year, driven by Aduhelm Alzheimer's drug projections.
Why did the Part B premium stay flat from 2013 to 2015?
Hold harmless. Small Social Security COLAs in those years capped how much the Part B premium could rise.
What is the 2027 Medicare Part B premium?
To be announced by CMS in November 2026. Any earlier number is speculation.
What is IRMAA?
An income-based surcharge on top of your standard Part B and Part D premiums. Starts at about $92,000 of modified adjusted gross income for a single filer.