To ensure seniors receive more COLA in their pockets, Rep. Norcross’ plan would ensure seniors never pay more than 30% of their COLA into Medicare premiums.
Limit Medicare premium increases so seniors never pay more than 30% of their Social Security COLA into Medicare premiums.
Occurrences
SSAct title XVIII (Medicare) is amended to prohibit any increases in Medicare part B premiums for calendar years beginning with 2017 to the extent they would exceed 30% of the difference between the amount of benefits payable to an individual for that December and the amount of benefits payable for that November.
the plan would create a “circuit breaker” of sorts, so seniors never pay more than 30 percent of their COLA into Medicare premiums
Evidence
Congress.gov lists Donald Norcross as a Democratic House member for New Jersey District 1, serving from the 113th through 119th Congresses, 2014-present.
Current U.S. Code sets Medicare Part B premiums using actuarial-rate rules and contains a hold-harmless limit that prevents a premium hike from reducing a protected beneficiary's net Social Security benefit below the prior month.
SSA states the 2026 COLA is 2.8%; average retired-worker benefits are listed as $2,015 before COLA and $2,071 after COLA.
Medicare.gov lists the 2026 Medicare Part B standard monthly premium as $202.90 and notes the amount can change each year.
CMS reported the standard monthly Medicare Part B premium was $185.00 for 2025, up from $174.70 in 2024.
SSA announced Social Security and SSI payments would increase 2.8% in 2026, with average retirement benefits increasing about $56 per month starting in January.
Assessments
The promised federal outcome was a binding limit preventing seniors from paying more than 30% of their Social Security COLA into Medicare premiums. The current Medicare statute still uses actuarial premium rules plus a narrower hold-harmless protection, not the promised 30% cap. The 2026 facts also show non-delivery: the average retired-worker COLA increase was about $56 per month, making 30% equal to $16.80, while the standard Part B premium rose from $185.00 in 2025 to $202.90 in 2026, a $17.90 increase. Because Norcross remained in federal office into later terms and the cap still was not in effect, this is a later-term failure. The provided evidence does not show a serious Norcross legislative or executive attempt sufficient for an effort badge.