Net COLA Calculator: Your 2027 Check After Medicare Part B
The COLA headline is the gross raise. What lands in your bank account is the net — and for the roughly 9 in 10 beneficiaries whose Medicare Part B premium comes straight out of their check, the premium takes a small bite first. This calculator does the full gross-to-net math, using the 2026 premium of $202.90 (official) and the 2027 premium of $209.50, which is a projection by the Medicare Trustees — the official 2027 premium is announced by CMS in November 2026.
Calculate your net 2027 increase
Enter your current gross benefit; adjust the premiums if yours differ (for example, an IRMAA tier).
Worked examples (standard Part B premium)
| Current benefit | Gross 2027 | Net 2026 (after $202.90) | Net 2027 (after projected $209.50) | Net monthly raise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $1,036 | $797.10 | $826.50 | +$29.40 |
| $1,500 | $1,554 | $1,297.10 | $1,344.50 | +$47.40 |
| $2,095 (average retiree) | $2,170 | $1,892.10 | $1,960.50 | +$68.40 |
The premium rise itself is only $6.60 a month ($209.50 projected vs $202.90 in 2026), so it trims the typical raise rather than erasing it. For the premium's status and history, see the 2027 Part B premium page.
The hold harmless rule: why your net check cannot fall
Since 1988, a provision of the Social Security Act has "held harmless" most beneficiaries against a situation where the Part B premium increase would be larger than their COLA raise. If that happens, your premium increase is capped at the dollar amount of your raise, so your net payment stays flat instead of dropping.
You are generally protected if all of these were true in November–December 2026: you were entitled to Social Security benefits, you were enrolled in Part B, and the premium was withheld from your check. You are generally not protected if you enroll in Part B for the first time in 2027, if you pay an income-related premium (IRMAA), if Medicaid pays your premium, or if you pay the premium directly rather than by withholding. The calculator above runs this check for you.
Get the 2027 Medicare Part B premium alert
The 2027 Part B premium has not been announced yet. When Medicare publishes it (expected November 2026), we will send one email with your updated net-check estimate. No spam, ever.
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Frequently asked questions
What will my Social Security check actually be in 2027 after Medicare?
Take your gross 2027 benefit (your current amount × 1.036, rounded down) and subtract your 2027 Part B premium. For the average retired worker: $2,170 − $209.50 (projected premium) = about $1,960.50, versus $1,892.10 net in 2026 — a take-home raise of about $68 a month.
What is the 2027 Medicare Part B premium?
Not yet announced. The 2026 standard premium is $202.90. The Medicare Trustees project $209.50 for 2027, and that projection is what this page uses until CMS publishes the official premium, expected in November 2026.
What is the hold harmless rule?
It is a Social Security provision that prevents your net check from falling because of a Part B premium increase. In general it protects you if you were enrolled in Part B in November and December 2026 and your premium was withheld from your Social Security check: your premium increase is capped at the dollar amount of your COLA raise. It does not protect new enrollees in 2027, people who pay IRMAA, or people whose premiums are paid by Medicaid or paid directly.
When will I know my exact net amount?
Your SSA COLA notice, posted in my Social Security in late November 2026 and mailed in December 2026, shows your new gross benefit and your actual 2027 Part B deduction.