What Is IRMAA? How 2026's Medicare Surcharges Are Calculated -- and How to Fight an Unfair One

1 week ago 8

Dana George, The Motley Fool

Mon, April 13, 2026 astatine 3:48 AM CDT 4 min read

IRMAA stands for Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, and is simply a surcharge that higher-income Medicare recipients wage connected apical of their Medicare Part B (medical insurance) and Part D (prescription cause coverage) premiums. If you gain supra the threshold, you'll wage much for sum than a beneficiary with a little income.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) determines whether you indispensable wage much for your healthcare sum based connected your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) from 2 years prior. For example, whether you indispensable wage an IRMAA successful 2026 is determined by your 2024 taxation return.

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Image source: Getty Images.

Here's however the calculation works:

  • The SSA reviews your taxation instrumentality from 2 years earlier.

  • Based connected your income and filing status, you're placed successful a bracket.

  • The SSA sends you a letter, indicating whether you indispensable wage an IRMAA.

  • The surcharge is typically deducted from your Social Security benefits.

Here's the full yearly IRMAA outgo by tier for Part B and Part D combined (per person):

Tier

Single MAGI range

Married filing jointly MAGI range

Annual IRMAA surcharge per person

Annual Surcharge per couple

No IRMAA

<$109,000

<$218,000

$0

$0

Tier 1

$109,001 to $137,000

$218,001 to $274,000

$1,148

$2,297

Tier 2

$137,001 to $171,000

$274,001 to $342,000

$2,886

$5,772

Tier 3

$171,001 to $205,000

$342,001 to $410,000

$4,620

$9,240

Tier 4

$205,001 to $499,999

$410,001 to $749,999

$6,355

$12,710

Tier 5

$500,000 oregon more

$750,000 oregon more

$6,936

$13,872

Data source: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

If you oregon your spouse is collecting spousal benefits, the SSA volition use the IRMAA surcharge to each of your benefits if you record a associated taxation instrumentality and your full MAGI exceeds the income threshold.

Here are immoderate of ways your beingness mightiness change:

  • You've gotten married

  • You've gotten a divorcement oregon annulment

  • Your spouse has died

  • You've retired, suffered a occupation loss, oregon present enactment reduced hours

  • You've mislaid income-producing spot owed to a catastrophe oregon different event

  • You've mislaid pension income

Any of these events tin pb to a little income and punctual you to petition a simplification successful your Medicare premiums. Here's however it's done:

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