Are You Paying More for Medicare Than You Need To?
If your income exceeds certain thresholds, Medicare charges you a surcharge called IRMAA that can add thousands per year to your Part B premiums. Enter your income below to see exactly what you’re paying.
2026 premium year. Based on your 2024 tax return (Form 1040 Line 11 + Line 2a).
Your 2026 Medicare Part B Cost
Standard PremiumAll 2026 Brackets: Single / HOH
| Income Range (2024 MAGI) | Level | Monthly Premium |
|---|
Paying More Than the Standard Premium?
There are legal, well-established strategies to reduce your modified adjusted gross income below the next IRMAA threshold. A single adjustment can save thousands per year.
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What Is IRMAA?
IRMAA stands for Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. It’s a surcharge Medicare adds to your Part B (and Part D) premiums if your income exceeds certain thresholds. Most people pay the standard Part B premium of $202.90/month. Higher earners pay between $284.10 and $689.90/month.
How Is IRMAA Calculated?
Medicare uses your Modified Adjusted Gross Income from two years prior. For 2026 premiums, they look at your 2024 tax return (or 2023 if 2024 isn’t available yet). Your MAGI is your AGI (Form 1040, Line 11) plus any tax-exempt interest (Line 2a).
The Cliff Problem
IRMAA works as a cliff system, not a gradual scale. Exceeding a threshold by even $1 triggers the full surcharge for that tier. A single filer at $109,001 pays the same IRMAA as someone at $136,999. This makes income planning near the boundaries extremely valuable.
Can You Appeal?
Yes. If you’ve experienced a life-changing event (retirement, work reduction, divorce, death of spouse, loss of income-producing property), you can file Form SSA-44 to request that Medicare use a more recent year’s income instead of the standard two-year lookback.