Medicare
Medicare and Social Security Guides
See how Medicare Part B premiums can affect a Social Security increase and when hold-harmless protection may apply.
Start with a guide
Medicare explanations
Medicare
How Medicare Part B Can Shrink Your COLA Raise
Why the headline increase and the money reaching your bank can differ.
6 min readMedicare protectionMedicare Hold-Harmless Rule: Who It Protects and How the Cap Works
When a Part B premium increase can be limited by a Social Security COLA—and when it cannot.
7 min readQuestions covered
What this topic helps explain
- How can a Part B premium change affect a COLA increase?
- Who may qualify for Medicare hold-harmless protection?
- Why can a net Social Security deposit differ from a gross benefit?
Check the official publications in our source directory and see how we label calculations in our methodology.