He Got a Social Security Raise —
Medicare Took It Back
Updated for 2026: Medicare premiums, COLA figures, and IRMAA thresholds reflect current data.
A personal story about Social Security, Medicare — and what nobody warns you about.
It's not a raise if it never reaches your bank account.
A friend called me recently, genuinely confused. He’d heard the good news — Social Security was giving out a raise.
Except when his check arrived, the raise was gone.
Swallowed whole. The COLA raise? Gone before deposit.
Worse — some got less than last year.
And they weren’t alone.
The COLA That Wasn’t
Recent COLA increases have averaged around $45–$55 per month for many retirees — depending on benefit level.
Meanwhile, Medicare premiums continue to rise.
And here’s what most people don’t realize: those premiums are typically deducted directly from your Social Security check.
Which means that “raise” may never reach your bank account at all.
It’s not a raise if it never reaches your bank account.
If this helped you understand what’s really happening, you can support my writing here .
The IRMAA Trap Nobody Talks About
If your income crosses certain thresholds, Medicare adds surcharges on top of your premiums.
And it’s based on your income from two years ago.
One good year — selling a home, taking a withdrawal — can follow you forward and quietly raise your costs.
On paper, it looks like a raise.
In real life, it doesn’t feel like one.
The System Wasn’t Designed for Senior Spending
COLA is based on CPI-W — a measure of spending for working people.
Not seniors.
There’s another index — CPI-E — that better reflects senior costs like healthcare and housing.
But it isn’t used.
This isn’t just a math problem. It’s dignity.
When Trying to Earn More Backfires
Many seniors try to close the gap — selling items, working part-time, renting space.
But there’s a hidden danger: the benefits cliff.
- Earn $4,000 → lose $8,000 in benefits
- Lose prescription assistance
- Lose food support
- Lose healthcare coverage
So people stop trying — not out of laziness, but because the math doesn’t work.
Call SHIP: shiphelp.org
The Hidden Cost Most People Don’t Plan For
Traditional Medicare typically covers about 80% of approved costs.
The remaining 20%? That’s on you — unless you carry supplemental “gap” insurance.
But those plans can cost hundreds of dollars per month — per person.
And when budgets get tight, many seniors are forced to drop that coverage.
Which means one medical event can turn into thousands of dollars out of pocket — overnight.
Make Some Noise
This system can be changed.
- Use CPI-E for COLA
- Update IRMAA thresholds
- Cap Medicare increases
Most offices take voicemail after hours — and those messages are logged and counted. You don’t need perfect timing. Even a quick call can still be heard.
Let’s use our voice — it still matters.
And While We Wait for Policy to Catch Up
There’s something we can do right now.
Invite seniors to dinner more often. Check in. Help with the chores that quietly cost money when they can’t do them easily anymore.
- Mow the yard
- Help with a deep clean once or twice a year
- Wash windows
- Scrub floors or walls
- Handle small errands before they turn into expensive problems
Sometimes the most meaningful help isn’t dramatic — it’s practical.
A hot meal. A clean kitchen. A yard that doesn’t get cited. One less bill waiting around the corner.
There are people out there already doing this — helping quietly, one yard at a time. Watch examples here .
Some of what I’m describing here wasn’t theoretical for me. I saw pieces of it up close in my dad’s life, as people helped each other. The Donut Shop, the Lotto Tickets, and My Dad .
My dad used to say the phone is the most powerful tool we have.
Maybe we use ours this week.
We’ve got each other.
Much love,
Alrady 💛
☕ This research took time — coffee keeps it going
🎬 Outtakes
Hope you enjoyed this one — the outtakes show how we got it just right.