The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services confirmed the standard Part B premium for 2025 sits at $185.00 per month, up about $10.30 from $174.70 in 2024.
That's a 5.9% jump, outpacing the broader inflation rate for much of the year.
For roughly 68 million enrollees, the increase lands automatically as a deduction from Social Security checks.
The math gets uncomfortable fast for anyone on a fixed income.
A retiree collecting $1,900 a month in Social Security loses nearly 10% of that check to the Part B premium alone, before Medicare Advantage add-ons, Part D drug coverage, or Medigap supplements enter the picture.
Add those, and many households are routing $300 to $500 a month straight into health coverage.
The annual deductible also rose, from $240 to $257.
That means enrollees pay the full cost of covered outpatient services until they cross that threshold, then typically 20% of the bill after that.
A single specialist visit, a diagnostic scan, or an outpatient procedure can burn through the deductible in one appointment.
The income-related monthly adjustment amount, or IRMAA, kicks in above $103,000 for single filers and $206,000 for joint filers.
At the top tier, Part B costs $628.90 per month.
Here's the trap: IRMAA is based on tax returns from two years prior, so a one-time windfall like a home sale or a Roth conversion can raise your premium long after the event.
Two things are worth checking before the year ends.
First, if you're enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, your insurer may cover some costs Part B doesn't, but networks and prior authorizations vary wildly.
Second, if your income dropped due to retirement, divorce, or the death of a spouse, you can file Form SSA-44 to request a reduction.
Many people never do, and overpay for years.
Open enrollment for Medicare Advantage and Part D runs through December 7.
Traditional Medicare enrollees can still switch Advantage plans or drug coverage during that window, and comparing formularies often saves more than the premium difference itself.
The bottom line: Part B is eating a bigger slice of retiree budgets every year, and the automatic deduction means most people never see it happen.
If you're within a few years of 65, build the premium into your retirement math now rather than discovering it on your first Social Security statement.
Final Thoughts
And if your income has changed recently, the SSA-44 is the most overlooked piece of paperwork in retirement planning.