I've been retired and on Medicare for 4 years. Why did my Part B premium increase by almost $100?

Question

Mark Bilgere · Accepted Answer

Your part B premium is based on your income from 2 years prior. Most often, a large increase in your Part B premium, after being on it for several years, is due to an IRMAA surcharge you incur due to a large influx of income. The most common causes of this include a large IRA withdrawal, the sale of a business, the sale of real estate, or a ROTH conversion. The proceeds from all these transactions are counted as income. This increase could trigger an IRMAA charge that will last for a year.

Answered by Mark Bilgere on April 13, 2026

Broker Licensed in TX, AR, IN & LA, MN, NE & OK

Answered by Mark Bilgere Medicare Insurance Agent

Stephanie Floyd · Answer

I'm sorry to hear that. A sudden increase in your Part B premium can feel confusing, especially when you’ve already been on Medicare for a few years. There are a couple of common reasons this happens:

1. Medicare looks at your income from two years ago.  
If you had a higher‑income year — even temporarily — Social Security may have added an IRMAA surcharge. That alone can increase your premium by around $80–$100.

2. The standard Part B premium changes some years.  
Even without IRMAA, Medicare adjusts the base premium periodically, which adds to the total.

3. You may qualify to appeal the increase.  
If your income has gone down since that higher‑income year, you may be able to file an appeal to have your premium lowered.

The easiest way to know exactly what caused your increase is to look at the letter Social Security mailed you — it will list the reason.

If you want a simple breakdown of how Medicare costs work and why premiums change, I put together a free Medicare 101 guide that explains everything in plain language. Let me know if you'd like a copy.

Pamela Camey · Answer

To efficiently answer your question, i would need to know more information about your situation.  But logic tells me the following answer to your question:
 In 2022 Part B premium was $170.10 a month
For 2026 Part B Premium is $202.90 a month

The part B Premium amounts are established by the US government Centers for Medicare annually.

If you are paying over $100 more in part B Premium in 2026, that that tells me you were most likely reported a much larger Modified adjusted gross income in 2024 when filing your income taxes. 

2026 Medicare IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount) surcharges are based on your 2024 modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). If your 2024 income is  
 between $109,000 (Single) or $218,000 (Married Filing Jointly) or less, you will pay no surcharges. For higher earners, surcharges are added to both Part B and Part D premiums.

You may review the 2026 Medicare IRMAA at  https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles

Voss Speros · Answer

Voss Speros here, Greek god of Medicare, talking about Medicare today. So the question is, I've been retired on Medicare for four years. Why did my Part B increase almost $100?

Okay, so that gives me a couple of things. If you don't pay attention, Part B goes up a little bit every year. And now boom, here you're at, or most likely, an IRMAA.

So they base your Part B premium around your income from two years ago. You've been retired for four years, so maybe two years ago you pulled a lot of money out of retirement accounts and you went over the IRMAA mark. So then this year they bumped you up to meet that.

If you don't make that margin, if it was just a one time thing, you can appeal that. There's a form, go on and appeal that for your IRMAA to come back down to where it should be. But most likely it's IRMAA, so look into that one. If you have questions, let us know.

Keith McCarthy · Answer

That's certainly worth finding out. However, your question is very general. I'll answer the best I can. One question: did it increase $100 over 4 years, or only in the last year?

1. At the beginning of every calendar year, Medicare adjusts their rates for Parts A, B and D. While it is possible that the rates could decrease in a given year (like once in a blue moon), like most things, the rates creep up each year. That may be one explanation.

2. If your income increased for some reason within the last 2 years, Medicare may be adding an IRMAA surcharge ("income related monthly adjustment amount), it may be due to that.

Feel free to reach out if you'd like to get more specific information.

Ida Washington · Answer

Most likely you had an increase in your income within the last two years. There is something called IRMAA (Income Related-Adjustment Monthly Amount). If you experienced an increase in your income that pasts the threshold amount, your premium could go up 35 % to 85%. When retired, your income can increase because of selling your assets such as your home or making higher withdrawals from retirement accounts.

Answered by Ida Washington on April 13, 2026

Broker Licensed in SC

Answered by Ida Washington Medicare Insurance Agent

Cindy Hoppe · Answer

You’re retired, but your Part B premium can still go up. Medicare looks at your tax return from two years ago, and if that income was higher, they add IRMAA , which is just an extra charge based on income. That’s usually what causes a jump of about $100.

Answered by Cindy Hoppe on April 14, 2026

Broker Licensed in AZ, CA, IA & 8 other states

Answered by Cindy Hoppe Medicare Insurance Agent

Josefina Escobar · Answer

It's probably due to Income‑Related Monthly Adjustment Amount aka IRMAA. Something like a large IRA, 401K withdrawal, or property sale can push you into a higher income bracket. IRMAA is calculated every year though, so there is no need to worry if that is the case.

Answered by Josefina Escobar on April 14, 2026

Broker Licensed in NC

Answered by Josefina Escobar Medicare Insurance Agent

Priscilla Ramos · Answer

Medicare looks at your tax return from 2 years ago, if your income went up (even temporarily), your Part B premium can increase significantly.
Other possibilities:
Annual Medicare premium increase
Late enrollment penalty (if applicable)

Lyle Affleck · Answer

There are several reasons your Part B premiums have gone up. In 2023, Part B premiums averaged $164.90. Today, average premiums are $202.90. One of the biggest factors is that healthcare costs have increased dramatically over the last few years. There are more seniors entering the Medicare portal today more than ever. The federal government will try to compensate for this change every year by increasing the amount of social security beneficiaries to compensate for inflation or for the cost of living. Unfortunately, these increases are inevitable, but most Medicare recipients don't notice the increase because it is usually directly withdrawn out of their monthly social security payment.

Answered by Lyle Affleck on April 27, 2026

Agent Licensed in UT, CO, FL & 8 other states

Answered by Lyle Affleck Medicare Insurance Agent

Victor Gerber · Answer

Each year the part B premium may increase by COLA cost of living percentage. You may also have IRMMA increase if income exceeds certain limits.

Sandy Nelson-Tittsworth, CMIP · Answer

I don’t know your personal situation of why your Part B the premium would increase by $100.
Could be your benefits changed, and you lost money on a giveback plan which lowers your part B premium. Could be that you had income above a certain level or they charge you more for your part B premium.

Deborah Kemp · Answer

Premium’s go up due to health cost or an increase in your income in the last 2 years. Unexpected increases in income can trigger an increase.

Robert Ragsdale · Answer

The cost for Medicare Part B is based on your adjusted gross income.  If you are a high earner, expect to pay more for Part B and for Part D.

I've been retired and on Medicare for 4 years. Why did my Part B premium increase by almost $100?

Agents: Share Your Expertise

Seniors: Ask a Question of Your Own

Related Questions

Agent Locator

Medicare Agents Hub
A non-government resource website

I've been retired and on Medicare for 4 years. Why did my Part B premium increase by almost $100?

Agents: Share Your Expertise

Seniors: Ask a Question of Your Own

Related Questions

Agent Locator

Medicare Agents HubA non-government resource website

Medicare Agents Hub
A non-government resource website