When it comes to Medicare and Presidents who really has done the best job?
Every election season there seems to be a debate about Medicare and President and who has done the best job helping seniors control this cost.
By looking at the annual changes between Medicare’s Part B premium and the rate of Inflation since Medicare’s inception one may conclude that regardless of who wins the debate the public is still losing.
Why the Public is not winning in the debate of which President is best for Medicare:
- In Medicare’s 58 years the Part B premium is growing at rate of 7.80% annually.
- During the same time period the average annually rate of Inflation is 4.04%.
Why the Part B premium outpacing the rate of Inflation is important to know:
Federal regulations a retiree’s Social Security benefit automatically pays for their Medicare Part B premium.
A retiree’s annual increase in their Social Security benefit through the cost-of living adjustment (COLA) is determined by the rate of Inflation for the year.
So, if Medicare’s Part B premium increases faster than the rate of Inflation for the year seniors will have less and less income from Social Security each year.
Ultimately, the Public lost since inception as their Social Security benefit is losing more and more purchasing power annually.
Medicare and Presidents who has done the best job:
The data shows that when it comes to lowest overall Part B premium growth during a full Term in Office President Donald J. Trump is the best on record.
In President Trump’s only Term in office (2017 – 2021) the Part B premium grew at annual rate of 2.63%.
Which President has the best record for just 1 year?
President Barrack Obama in 2012 holds the title for the largest reduction in the Part B premium on record.
The Part B premium dropped by 13.43% as the monthly cost went to $99.00 a month from $115.50 a month in 2011.
Who has been the worst in terms of Medicare and Presidents?
The data shows that when it comes to just how fast the Part B premium grew over one Term the winner would be President Ronald Reagan in his 2nd Term (1985-1989).
During Pres. Reagan’s 2nd Term in Office the Part B premium went from $15.50 a month (1985) to $31.90 a month in 1989. This is a 20.67% increase on an annual average.
When it comes to the worst one-year performance in terms of the Part B premium inflating faster than the rate of Inflation that would be Pres. Obama (2016).
In 2016 the Part B premium grew 20.03 times faster than the rate of Inflation as the Part B premium grew by 16.11% while the rate of Inflation was only at 0.80%.
More information on Medicare and Presidents:
The breakdown of each U.S. President and the difference between Medicare’s Part B premium and the rate of Inflation:
Medicare and President Johnson (D) 1967 – 1969:
During President Johnson’s term in Office the Medicare program is established, bit is not made available to the public until 1967
| President Johnson (D) | |||||
| Part B | CPI-U | ||||
| Year | Premium | % Change | Inflation | ||
| 1967 | $3.00 | ||||
| 1968 | $4.00 | 33.33% | 3.63% | ||
| 1969 | $4.00 | 0.00% | 5.06% | ||
| Avg Increase | 16.67% | 4.34% | |||
- 1965 – Congress passes the Medicare Act, but the program is not available to the public for another two years.
- 1967 – The Medicare program becomes available with the Part B premium beginning at $3.00 a month.
- 1968 – The very first increase in the premium happens as Pres. Johnson increases the Part B premium to $4.00 a month.
- This is a 33.33% increase in cost while the rate of Inflation sits at 3.63%.
- 1969 – The premium remains the same as 1968 ($4.00 a month).
Medicare and Presidents: Lyndon Johnson:
The Part B premium grows 4.59 times faster than the rate of inflation during his last Term as President.
Medicare and President Nixon (R) 1969 – 1973:
| President Nixon (R) | |||
| 1969 – 1973 | |||
| Part B | CPI-U | ||
| Year | Premium | % Change | Inflation |
| 1969 | $4.00 | 5.06% | |
| 1970 | $4.00 | 0.00% | 5.93% |
| 1971 | $5.30 | 32.50% | 4.96% |
| 1972 | $5.60 | 5.66% | 3.33% |
| 1973 | $5.80 | 3.57% | 4.64% |
| Avg Increase | 10.43% | 4.71% | |
In President Nixon’s first year administering the Medicare program (1970) the Part B premium remains constant, but over the next 3 years the premium increases annually.
- 1970 – The Part B premium is lower than the rate of Inflation.
- 1971 – The Part B premium grows 6.55 times faster than the rate of Inflation.
- 1972 – The Part B premium grows 1.07 times faster than the rate of Inflation.
- 1973 – The Part B premium is lower than the rate of Inflation.
Medicare and Presidents: Richard Nixon:
The Part B premium on average grows 2.21 times faster than the rate of Inflation during his “1st Term” in Office.
Medicare and President(s) Nixon / Ford (R) 1973 – 1977:
Challenges did exist in Pres. Nixon’s 2nd Term in office and with President Ford stepping in the Part B premium for the first time didn’t increase higher than the rate of inflation, but it did go up.
| Presidents Nixon / Ford (R) | |||
| 1973 – 1977 | |||
| Part B | CPI-U | ||
| Year | Premium | % Change | Inflation |
| 1973 | $5.80 | 4.64% | |
| 1974 | $6.30 | 8.62% | 9.69% |
| 1975 | $6.70 | 6.35% | 10.73% |
| 1976 | $6.70 | 0.00% | 6.49% |
| 1977 | $7.20 | 7.46% | 6.03% |
| Avg Increase | 5.61% | 8.23% | |
- 1974 – The Part B premium is lower than the rate of Inflation.
- 1975 – The Part B premium is lower than the rate of Inflation.
- 1976 – The Part B premium is lower than the rate of Inflation.
- 1977 – The Part B premium grows 1.2 times faster than the rate Inflation.
Medicare and Presidents Nixon / Ford
The Part B premium grows by 5.61% on average annually, but the growth rate is substantially lower than the rate of Inflation which averages 8.23% annually.
Medicare and President Carter (D) 1977 – 1981
President Carter’s first 3 years were marred with record inflation, but even with that hurdle his administration, though increasing the Part B premium each year, kept the cost for seniors below the rate of inflation during that time.
| President Carter (D) | |||
| 1977- 1981 | |||
| Part B | CPI-U | ||
| Year | Premium | % Change | Inflation |
| 1977 | $7.20 | 6.90% | |
| 1978 | $7.70 | 6.94% | 10.00% |
| 1979 | $8.20 | 6.49% | 13.56% |
| 1980 | $8.70 | 6.10% | 11.22% |
| 1981 | $9.60 | 10.34% | 7.87% |
| Avg Increase | 7.47% | 10.66% | |
- 1978 – The Part B premium is lower than the rate of Inflation.
- 1979 – The Part B premium is lower than the rate of Inflation.
- 1980 – The Part B premium is lower than the rate of Inflation.
- 1981 – Part B premium grows 1.31 times faster than the rate of Inflation.
Medicare and Presidents: James Carter
The Part B premium grows by 7.47% on average annually, but the growth rate is substantially lower than the rate of Inflation which averages 10.66% annually.
Pres. Carter, when it comes to helping seniors with the expense of Medicare’s Part B premium keep in line with or even have it be below the rate of Inflation, ranks #1.
Medicare and President Reagan (R) 1981 – 1985
Under President Reagan’s Administration the Part B premium will experience some of the largest percentage increases on record, but when comparing with the rate of Inflation he is on par with the majority of other Presidents.
| President Reagan (R) | |||
| 1981 – 1985 | |||
| Part B | CPI-U | ||
| Year | Premium | % Change | Inflation |
| 1981 | $9.60 | 11.22% | |
| 1982 | $11.00 | 14.58% | 7.87% |
| 1983 | $12.20 | 10.91% | 3.69% |
| 1984 | $14.60 | 19.67% | 3.99% |
| 1985 | $15.50 | 6.16% | 3.78% |
| Avg Increase | 12.83% | 4.83% | |
- 1982 – The Part B premium grows 1.85 times faster than the rate of Inflation.
- 1983 – The Part B premium grows 2.96 times faster than the rate of Inflation.
- 1984 – The Part B premium grows 4.93 times faster than the rate of Inflation.
- 1985 – The Part B premium grows 2.66 times faster than the rate of Inflation.
Medicare and Presidents: Ronald Reagan (1st Term)
The Part B premium on average grows 2.66 times faster than the rate of Inflation during his 1st Term in Office.
President Reagan (R) 1985 – 1989
Pres. Reagan’s 2nd term in office, from a historical point of view, is absolutely draw dropping when considering how seniors took it on the chin with the rising cost of Medicare’s Part B premium.
| President Reagan (R) | |||
| 1985 – 1989 | |||
| Part B | CPI-U | ||
| Year | Premium | % Change | Inflation |
| 1985 | $15.50 | 3.78% | |
| 1986 | $15.50 | 0.00% | 2.57% |
| 1987 | $17.90 | 15.48% | 2.64% |
| 1988 | $24.80 | 38.55% | 4.14% |
| 1989 | $31.90 | 28.63% | 4.74% |
| Avg Increase | 20.67% | 3.52% | |
- 1986 – The Part B premium is lower than the rate of Inflation.
- 1987 –The Part B Premium grows 5.86 times faster than the rate of Inflation.
- 1988 – The Part B premium grows 9.32 times faster than the rate of Inflation.
- 1989 –The Part B Premium grows 6.03 times faster than the rate of Inflation.
Medicare and Presidents: Ronald Reagan (2nd Term)
The Part B premium on average grows 5.86 times faster than the rate of Inflation during his 2nd Term in Office.
President Bush Sr. (R) 1989 – 1993
In President Bush Sr.’s very first year in Office he does the unthinkable as the Part B premium decreases from $31.90 a month in 1989 to $28.60 a month in 1990.
| President Bush Sr. (R) | |||
| 1989 – 1993 | |||
| Part B | CPI-U | ||
| Year | Premium | % Change | Inflation |
| 1989 | $31.90 | 4.74% | |
| 1990 | $28.60 | -10.34% | 4.84% |
| 1991 | $29.90 | 4.55% | 5.28% |
| 1992 | $31.80 | 6.35% | 3.05% |
| 1993 | $36.60 | 15.09% | 3.06% |
| Avg Increase | 3.91% | 4.19% | |
- 1990 – The Part B premium is significantly lower than the rate of Inflation.
- 1991 – The Part B premium is lower than the rate of Inflation.
- 1992 – The Part B premium grows 2.09 times faster than the rate of Inflation.
- 1993 – The Part B premium grows by 4.93 times faster than the rate of Inflation.
Medicare and Presidents: George Bush Sr.
The Part B premium on average grows 0.96 times faster than the rate of Inflation during his only Term in Office.
President Clinton (D) 1993 – 1997
The first 2 years of President Clinton’s Administration is the exact same story of past Presidents handling the Part B premium as the cost continues to climb.
BUT, in his 3rd year he follows former Pres. Bush Sr. lead and decreases the monthly Part B premium by 7.81%.
| President Clinton (D) | |||
| 1993 – 1997 | |||
| Part B | CPI-U | ||
| Year | Premium | % Change | Inflation |
| 1993 | $36.60 | 3.06% | |
| 1994 | $41.10 | 12.30% | 2.60% |
| 1995 | $46.10 | 12.17% | 2.84% |
| 1996 | $42.50 | -7.81% | 2.76% |
| 1997 | $43.80 | 3.06% | 2.74% |
| Avg Increase | 4.93% | 2.73% | |
- 1994 – The Part B premium grows 4.73 times faster than the rate of Inflation.
- 1995 – The Part B premium grows 4.28 times faster than the rate of Inflation.
- 1996 – Part B premium is significantly lower than the rate of Inflation.
- 1997 – The Part B premium grows 1.12 times faster than the rate of Inflation.
Medicare and Presidents: William Clinton (1st Term)
The Part B premium on average grows 1.80 times faster than the rate of Inflation during his 1st Term in Office.
Pres. Clinton becomes only the second U.S. President to decrease the Part B premium and the first as a Democrat. This will not happen again until Pres. Obama, another Democrat does it 16 years later in 2012.
President Clinton (D) 1997 – 2001
Pres. Clinton’s first 3 years of his 2nd Term brought a little bit of stability to the Medicare Program as the Part B premium remained relatively flat when comparing it to the last 3 decades.
| President Clinton (D) | |||
| 1997-2001 | |||
| Part B | CPI-U | ||
| Year | Premium | % Change | Inflation |
| 1997 | $43.80 | 2.74% | |
| 1998 | $43.80 | 0.00% | 1.69% |
| 1999 | $45.50 | 3.88% | 1.82% |
| 2000 | $45.50 | 0.00% | 3.11% |
| 2001 | $50.00 | 9.89% | 3.29% |
| Avg Increase | 3.44% | 2.48% | |
- 1998 – The Part B premium is lower than the rate of Inflation.
- 1999 – The Part B premium grows 2.13 times faster than the rate of Inflation.
- 2000 – The Part B premium is lower than the rate of Inflation.
- 2001 – The Part B premium grows 3.01 times faster than the rate of Inflation.
Medicare and Presidents: William Clinton (2nd Term)
The Part B premium on average grows 1.39 times faster than the rate of Inflation during his 2nd Term in Office.
President Bush Jr. (R) 2001 – 2005
In President Bush Jr.’s 1st Term in Office the Part B premium consistently grew at a larger and larger rate each year all the while the rate of Inflation was staying consistently low.
| President Bush Jr. (R) | |||
| 2001 – 2005 | |||
| Part B | CPI-U | ||
| Year | Premium | % Change | Inflation |
| 2001 | $50.00 | 3.29% | |
| 2002 | $54.00 | 8.00% | 1.59% |
| 2003 | $58.70 | 8.70% | 2.28% |
| 2004 | $66.60 | 13.46% | 2.30% |
| 2005 | $78.20 | 17.42% | 3.11% |
| Avg Increase | 11.89% | 2.32% | |
- 2002 – The Part B premium grows 5.03 times faster than the rate of Inflation.
- 2003 –The Part B premium grows 3.82 times faster than the rate of Inflation.
- 2004 – The Part B premium grows 5.84 times faster than the rate of Inflation.
- 2005 –The Part B premium grows 5.61 times faster than the rate of Inflation.
Medicare and Presidents: Georger Bush Jr. (1st Term)
The Part B premium on average grows 5.13 times faster than the rate of Inflation during his 1st Term in Office.
President Bush Jr. (R) 2005 – 2009
The 2nd Term in Office for President Bush Jr. is the exact opposite as the Part B premium grows slower and slower each year.
| President Bush Jr. (R) | |||
| 2005 – 2009 | |||
| Part B | CPI-U | ||
| Year | Premium | % Change | Inflation |
| 2005 | $78.20 | 3.11% | |
| 2006 | $88.50 | 13.17% | 3.90% |
| 2007 | $93.50 | 5.65% | 2.29% |
| 2008 | $96.40 | 3.10% | 4.26% |
| 2009 | $96.40 | 0.00% | 0.19% |
| Avg Increase | 5.48% | 2.66% | |
- 2006 – The Part B premium grows 3.90 times faster than the rate of Inflation.
- 2007 –The Part B premium grows 2.29 times faster than the rate of Inflation.
- 2008 – The Part B premium is lower than the rate of Inflation.
- 2009 – The Part B premium is lower than the rate of Inflation.
Medicare and Presidents: George Bush Jr. (2nd Term)
The Part B premium on average grows 2.06 times faster than the rate of Inflation during his 2nd Term in Office.
President Obama (D) 2009 – 2013
President Obama’s 1st Term in Office brought extremes, but the one great aspect about his time in Office is that the monthly Part B premium decreases for the 3rd time in 2012.
| President Obama (D) | |||
| 2009 – 2013 | |||
| Part B | CPI-U | ||
| Year | Premium | % Change | Inflation |
| 2009 | $96.40 | 0.19% | |
| 2010 | $110.50 | 14.63% | 1.48% |
| 2011 | $115.40 | 4.43% | 2.43% |
| 2012 | $99.90 | -13.43% | 2.57% |
| 2013 | $104.90 | 5.01% | 1.70% |
| Avg Increase | 2.66% | 2.04% | |
- 2010 – The Part B premium grows 9.90 times faster than the rate of Inflation.
- 2011 – The Part B premium grows 1.83 times faster than the rate of Inflation.
- 2012 – The greatest decrease in the monthly Part B premium on record.
- 2013 – The Part B premium grows 2.95 times faster than the rate of Inflation.
Medicare and Presidents: Barrack Obama (2nd Term)
The Part B premium on average grows 1.30 times faster than the rate of Inflation during his 1st Term in Office.
President Obama (D) 2013 – 2017
The 2nd Term in Office for President Obama starts off outstanding as the Part Premium does not move for the first 2 years, but unfortunately the last 2 are the complete opposite.
| President Obama (D) | |||
| 2013 – 2017 | |||
| Part B | CPI-U | ||
| Year | Premium | % Change | Inflation |
| 2013 | $104.90 | 1.70% | |
| 2014 | $104.90 | 0.00% | 1.58% |
| 2015 | $104.90 | 0.00% | 0.45% |
| 2016 | $121.80 | 16.11% | 0.80% |
| 2017 | $134.00 | 10.02% | 1.99% |
| Avg Increase | 6.53% | 1.21% | |
- 2014 – The Part B premium is lower than the rate of Inflation.
- 2015 – The Part B premium is lower than the rate of Inflation.
- 2016 – The Part B premium grows 20.3 times faster than the rate of Inflation.
- The largest difference between the premium and Inflation on record.
- 2017 –The Part B premium grows 5.04 times faster than the rate of Inflation.
Medicare and Presidents: Barrack Obama (2nd Term)
The Part B premium on average grows 5.42 times faster than the rate of Inflation during his 2nd Term in Office.
President Trump (R) 2017 – 2021
Even with Covid-19 causing a worldwide pandemic President Trump produces the slowest 4 year average rate of growth for the Part B premium on record.
| President Trump (R) | |||
| 2017 – 2021 | |||
| Part B | CPI-U | ||
| Year | Premium | % Change | Inflation |
| 2017 | $134.00 | 1.99% | |
| 2018 | $134.00 | 0.00% | 2.42% |
| 2019 | $135.50 | 1.12% | 1.90% |
| 2020 | $144.60 | 6.72% | 1.46% |
| 2021 | $148.50 | 2.70% | 3.00% |
| Avg Increase | 2.63% | 2.19% | |
- 2018 – The Part B premium is lower than the rate of Inflation.
- 2019 –The Part B premium is lower than the rate of Inflation.
- 2020 – The Part B premium grows 4.61 times faster than the rate of Inflation.
- 2021 –Part B premium growth is lower than the rate of Inflation.
Medicare and Presidents: Donald Trump
The Part B premium on average grows 1.20 times faster than the rate of Inflation during his one Term in Office.
President Biden (D) 2021 – Present
Following the lead of Pres. Obama’s final year in office President Biden increases that Part B premium by 14.55% in his first year.
This may seem excessive but when comparing it to the rate of Inflation he is on track and he follows it up by dropping the monthly premium in 2023 too.
| President Biden (D) | |||
| 2021 – 2024 | |||
| Part B | CPI-U | ||
| Year | Premium | % Change | Inflation |
| 2021 | $148.50 | 3.00% | |
| 2022 | $170.10 | 14.55% | 7.69% |
| 2023 | $164.90 | -3.06% | 5.43% |
| 2024 | $174.80 | 6.00% | 3.17% |
| 2025 | 185.00* | 5.84% | N/A |
| Avg Increase | 5.83% | 4.82% | |
- 2022 – The Part B premium grows 1.89 times faster than the rate of Inflation.
- 2023 –The Part B premium is significantly lower than the rate of Inflation.
- 2024 – The Part B premium grows 1.89 times faster than the rate of Inflation.
- Rate of Inflation is on average through July 2024.
- 2025 – (NOT OFFICAL) Part B increase = 5.84 vs rate of Inflation tbd..
- The Medicare Board of Trustees is reporting that the Part B premium will be $185.00 a month in 2025.
- Inflation can not be determined.
Medicare and Presidents: Pres. Joseph Biden
The Part B premium is on pace to grow on average 1.37 times faster than the rate of Inflation during his Term in Office.
Conclusion to Medicare and Presidents:
Overall, the Medicare Part B premium, since 1967 has been growing at a rate of 7.80% while the rate of Inflation during the same time has only been 4.04% on an annual average.
This should not be a win for any political party of even President as retirees are losing purchasing power with their Social Security benefit every year.
