Get ready for a shocking revelation: Medicare Part B premiums are set to skyrocket by a whopping 10% in 2026! This news, announced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), will impact seniors and disabled enrollees alike. But here’s where it gets controversial…
The CMS has revealed the monthly actuarial rates for Part B beneficiaries, and the numbers are eye-opening. Starting in 2026, seniors will be paying $405.40 per month, while disabled enrollees will face a rate of $585.60. That’s a significant jump from the 2025 standard premium rate of $185.00, resulting in an increase of $202.90.
And this is the part most people miss: the percentage increase for 2026 is almost double what it was in 2025, when the standard monthly Part B premium rate rose from $174.70 to $185. So, what’s behind this steep rise?
Medicare Part B covers a range of medical costs, including ambulance services, outpatient hospital care, certain prescription drugs, medical equipment, oxygen equipment, and services for substance use disorders. It’s a vital safety net for many, but the costs are increasing.
The Trump administration claims that without their intervention on skin substitutes earlier this year, the increase would have been even higher. Skin substitutes are biologic or synthetic products used for outpatient wound care, and their usage has skyrocketed in recent years.
In July, the CMS proposed measures to “reduce waste and unnecessary use of skin substitutes,” citing a dramatic increase in spending on these products. Medicare Part B spending on skin substitutes jumped from $256 million in 2019 to over $10 billion in 2024! The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General also raised concerns about potential billing fraud related to skin substitutes.
The CMS states that the increase in the 2026 Part B standard premium and deductible is primarily due to projected price changes and expected utilization increases, consistent with historical trends. They argue that without their actions on skin substitutes, the Part B premium increase would have been about $11 more per month.
However, the CMS also notes that changes finalized in the 2026 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule are expected to reduce spending on skin substitutes by 90% without impacting patient care.
Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.), ranking member of the House Ways and Means Committee, has criticized the increased premium rate, calling it an “endless assault on people’s wallets and the public health system.” He argues that Trump’s actions have led to exorbitant premium hikes, affecting not only those who purchase their own coverage but also Americans with employer coverage and those on Medicare.
So, what do you think? Is this a necessary step to control healthcare costs, or is it a burden on already struggling Americans? Share your thoughts in the comments and let’s discuss this controversial issue!