2019 COLA and Medicare Part B premium to be announced soon

[GailL1]

CNBC 09/17/2018 - Your Social Security check could be bigger next year

• Every October, the Social Security Administration announces a cost-of-living adjustment for the next year's benefits.
• Data collected thus far point to a 2.8 percent increase, which would be the highest increase retirees have seen in recent years.
• While that increase could pad your wallet, the high costs of health care could affect how far your Social Security checks can stretch.

The Medicare Part B premium for 2019 will not be announced until after the Social Security Administration announces the cost-of-living adjustment in October. The most recent estimates indicate those premiums for many recipients will cost $135.50 in 2019 -

I think they are pretty close on the COLA % - 2.8% but have no idea if this is a close estimate on the regular Medicare Part B premiums.  CMS did initiate some cost savings programs that might make some difference in 2019; hopefully more in later years, on holding down cost in the SMI or Part B of Medicare without affecting any benefits.

Guess we will know for sure in the next few weeks - Stay Tuned!