Social Security Checks Shrink by $202.90 at 65 as Medicare Part B Premiums Begin
Updated
Updated · The Motley Fool · Jun 6
Social Security Checks Shrink by $202.90 at 65 as Medicare Part B Premiums Begin
3 articles · Updated · The Motley Fool · Jun 6
Summary
$202.90 a month will be deducted from many retirees' Social Security checks in 2026 once they turn 65 and enroll in standard Medicare Part B.
That drop hits seniors who claimed Social Security before 65 because Medicare eligibility begins then, and Part B premiums are often withheld automatically from monthly benefits.
Skipping Part B when first eligible can be costly: many seniors face a lifetime 10% penalty for each 12-month period they delay without other qualifying coverage.
Part B is only one Medicare option, and retirees are urged to compare Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans while budgeting for smaller net Social Security payments.