Medicare News
If your income is above $109,000 (single) or $218,000 (married filing jointly), you pay more for Medicare Part B. Here are the 2026 IRMAA brackets and how to appeal.
Medicare charges more for Part B once your income passes a set level. Here are the 2026 brackets and what you can do if your income dropped.
IRMAA stands for Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. It is an extra charge added to your Part B premium, and to your Part D premium if you have drug coverage, when your income is above certain levels. Most people never pay it.
Medicare looks at your tax return from two years ago. The 2026 brackets use 2024 income. That means a big one-time event, such as selling a home or a business or cashing out a retirement account, can raise your premium two years later.
If you file as an individual, you pay the standard $202.90 a month at $109,000 or less. Above that, your total monthly Part B premium steps up to $284.10 ($109,001 to $137,000), $405.80 ($137,001 to $171,000), $527.50 ($171,001 to $205,000), $649.20 ($205,001 to $499,999), and $689.90 at $500,000 or more. Married couples filing jointly have double the income ranges, starting at $218,000.
If your income went down because of a life-changing event, such as retirement, a work reduction, the death of a spouse, or divorce, you can ask Social Security to use a more recent year. This is done with a form called SSA-44. Ask Social Security which documents they need.
If you are near a bracket line, timing matters. A withdrawal from a traditional IRA, a Roth conversion, or the sale of an investment can push you over. Talk to a tax professional before you make large moves around age 63.
Skyler Abilla is a licensed Medicare agent in Bluffton. Call (843) 284-6815 or book a free call. For tax advice, please talk to a tax professional.
Source: 2026 Medicare Part B premium and IRMAA brackets as summarized by AMAC, based on CMS figures.
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