I've heard about IRMAA affecting my Medicare premiums. How can I find out if it applies to me, and how does it work?

Question

Lea Ayres · Accepted Answer

IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount) affects Medicare Part B and D premiums for those with higher incomes, and it's determined by the Social Security Administration based on your income from two years prior. You'll receive an "Initial Determination" if IRMAA applies to you.

Answered by Lea Ayres on March 12, 2025

Broker Licensed in PA, CT, MD & 8 other states

Answered by Lea Ayres Medicare Insurance Agent

Larry Dalton · Answer

The Social Security Administration office will notify you if IRMAA will apply to you, for it is calculated annually upon your tax returns. These rates may change yearly by Medicare and are publicized in your annual Medicare booklet. The amount you pay changes yearly and is recalculated from the income you submit on your tax return for that year.

Answered by Larry Dalton on April 14, 2025

Broker Licensed in OK & TX

Answered by Larry Dalton Medicare Insurance Agent

Melonie Wood · Answer

IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount) affects Medicare Part B and D premiums for those with higher incomes, and it's determined by the Social Security Administration based on your income from two years prior. You'll receive an "Initial Determination" if IRMAA applies to you.

Answered by Lea Ayres on March 12, 2025

Broker Licensed in PA, CT, MD & 8 other states

William Lawler · Answer

To find out about all things IRMAA, contact ssa.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE. 
If your income earned is above a certain threshold, your Part B premium will be hirer. 
Bill Lawler 636-500-1892

Jon Kelderman · Answer

Irmaa is added on to your regular Part B Premium for those earning over $106,000 per year if your single and $212,000 per year if your married. It's base on your MAGI income going back two years.

Corey Romero · Answer

IRMAA is always (NOT) a fun surprise and many folks don’t see it coming. It stands for Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, but really, it just means Medicare is charging you more because you “made too much” two years ago. Yay, right?

Medicare looks at your income from two years back - so in 2025, they’re using your 2023 tax return. If your income was over a certain amount, you’ll pay extra for Part B and Part D. And no, it’s not always a small bump - it can be a few hundred bucks more per month depending on your income level.

You’ll get a letter from Social Security if IRMAA applies. The timing of that letter? Let’s just say it's government issued and doesn’t always conveniently show up BEFORE you’ve already picked your plans and thought you had your costs locked in. 

If you’re not working with someone who brings this up ahead of time, that Social Security letter is not a fun one to open. That’s why it helps to trust your advisor who’s actually looking ahead - not just plugging in plan info or letting you go at it alone.

The good news? If your income has gone down if you just retired, sold a business, or lost a spouse - you can appeal it using form SSA-44 to get those premiums adjusted.

If your 2023 income was over $103,000 (single) or $206,000 (married filing jointly), it’s worth looking into. If not, you’re probably good. Either way, the key is catching it before you’re stuck wondering why your Medicare bill just jumped.

Steven Bleicher · Answer

Go to www.Medicare.gov and put in the search box “IRMAA”. It should show you a chart based on one’s “AGI”, aka Adjusted Gross Income. Believe it or not it’s taken from your 2-year old tax return!! Look at either the Joint column if you filed with your spouse or at the individual if you didn’t. This IS the means of determining exactly what you will pay for your Part B (since Part A is totally free if you had contributed a minimum of ten years towards Social Security, & taken out by your employer from your paycheck). If you can’t find it, ask your agent for a PDF of the 2025 chart. It will increase every year based on our global economy.

Answered by Steven Bleicher on June 18, 2025

Broker Licensed in AZ

Answered by Steven Bleicher Medicare Insurance Agent

Gregg Matheny · Answer

IRMAA is a way for Medicare to charge those in higher income brackets more for their part B and part D premiums. IRMAA always goes off of your income from 2 years prior, so if you sold a house for $1 million in 2023, Then in 2025 you will pay the highest part B and part D premiums. You’ll need to search “Medicare IRMAA 2025” to find the most up to date charts and plan accordingly. Keep in mind that you will pay a part B as well as a part D premium.

Answered by Gregg Matheny on March 26, 2025

Agent Licensed in AZ & UT

Answered by Gregg Matheny Medicare Insurance Agent

Steven Lovell · Answer

YES, IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount) definitely can affect your Medicare Parts B and D premiums if your income exceeds certain thresholds. You'll receive a notice from the Social Security Administration (SSA) called an "initial determination" if IRMAA applies to you, and you can request a re-determination if you believe the calculation is incorrect or your circumstances have changed. You can make some financial changes that can help reduce your IRMAA and subsequently your premiums for Part B and Part D. Feel free to contact me for further explanation.

Answered by Steven Lovell on May 18, 2025

Broker Licensed in GA, CA, FL & 7 other states

Answered by Steven Lovell Medicare Insurance Agent

Daintee Hurst Dietz · Answer

We can provide you the federal part b chart where you can find your income. Once you see where your household falls, you’ll see if you are going to be required to pay IRMAA and what that amount is.

Kathy Adams · Answer

IRMAA brackets for Medicare Parts B & D premiums are based on your 2023 Modified Adjusted Gross Income. These brackets determine how much premium surcharges will be.

Vachik Chakhbazian · Answer

I've heard about IRMAA affecting my Medicare premiums. How can I find out if it applies to me, and how does it work?

Marcie Barnes · Answer

The average Medicare beneficiary on a fixed income will not be assessed the Part IRMAA unless their income is above $100,000 or more or something of great value was obtained or sold causing it to be reported to the IRS

If you are assessed a Part D Irma you will receive a letter from Social Security.

Andrew Kramer · Answer

If you are already on Medicare, then you would already know that you are paying the IRMAA because Social Security billed you for that, or it's already coming out of your Social. It's based on your gross income, from a 2 year ago tax return. If you are not yet on Medicare, there are tables that will show the income levels and IRMAA. A good agent will have those to show you. The only way to dispute an IRMAA is if the higher income was due to a 1-time amount from a lump sum pension, or sale of a property. If you have vastly lower income now, you can also try. There's a form on SSA.gov to dispute it.

Answered by Andrew Kramer on May 15, 2025

Agent Licensed in FL

Answered by Andrew Kramer Medicare Insurance Agent

Larry Pereiro · Answer

Contact the Social Security Administration to determine if you are subject to the IRMMA and any penalties you be subject to. Those fees are added to the cost of the Medicare Advantage product, so even if the carrier has a zero premium, plan available to you, you must pay those fees and penalties to Medicare.

Answered by Larry Pereiro on June 2, 2025

Agent Licensed in IN

Answered by Larry Pereiro Medicare Insurance Agent

Judi Norton · Answer

Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) can affect your Part B premium if you are above the Adjusted Gross Income Amount set each year. Social Security is looking at income 2 years back. Filing jointly vs. independent has different Adjusted Gross Income amounts. Looking at your Income Taxes will tell you earnings and you can pull up the chart for IRMAA for the year you are looking to turn on your Medicare Part B.

Answered by Judi Norton on April 14, 2025

Agent Licensed in NM

Answered by Judi Norton Medicare Insurance Agent

Michael Turkaly · Answer

The IRMAA is based on your income. I will depend if you file taxes single or as a couple. They will look back 2 years at your income.

Kerwyn Jones · Answer

There are income ranges which determine what you will pay as a single person or a married couple. Whats your income

Leisha Stevens · Answer

Income Thresholds:
The SSA uses your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) from your tax return two years prior to determine if you fall into an IRMAA bracket. 
Two-Year Lookback:
Your 2025 IRMAA will be based on your 2023 income tax return. 
Part B and Part D:
IRMAA affects both Medicare Part B (medical insurance) and Part D (prescription drug coverage) premiums, but not Part A (hospital insurance). 
Automatic Deduction:
If you receive Social Security benefits, the IRMAA will be automatically deducted from your monthly payments. 
Notices:
The SSA sends out predetermination and initial determination notices to inform you if you owe IRMAA and how to appeal if you disagree with the determination. 
Appeals:
You can appeal the IRMAA if you've had a life-changing event that significantly reduced your income, such as marriage, divorce, death of a spouse, or loss of income. 
To find out if IRMAA applies to you:
1. Check your income:
Look at your 2023 tax return to see if your MAGI exceeded the threshold for your filing status (single or married filing jointly). 
2. Review SSA notifications:
If you are subject to IRMAA, the SSA will send you an initial determination notice. 
The Social Security Administration tells you if you have to pay the Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA).

Mark Szymanski · Answer

There is an income bracket that shows the rate for your Medicare premiums. Your modified adjusted gross income has to be about 106,000 to incur a surcharge.

Jennifer Ragborg · Answer

IRMAA is a surcharge aimed at the high earning Medicare beneficiaries by using your Federal adjusted gross income and marital status. If it applies to you, Social Security will let you know how much your Part B and Part D will cost for the next year.

Answered by Jennifer Ragborg on April 21, 2025

Agent Licensed in MN, AZ, FL, NC & WI

Answered by Jennifer Ragborg Medicare Insurance Agent

Tyler Henderson · Answer

Good day. The IRMAA starts when your single filer modified adjusted gross income exceeds $103,000. If you file jointly the IRMAA will kick in if the MAGI exceeds $206,000. If your income triggers the IRMAA the Social Security Admininistration with sent you a letter informing you of your new premium. The letter can generally be expected later in the year.

Answered by Tyler Henderson on March 31, 2025

Agent Licensed in FL

Answered by Tyler Henderson Medicare Insurance Agent

I've heard about IRMAA affecting my Medicare premiums. How can I find out if it applies to me, and how does it work?

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I've heard about IRMAA affecting my Medicare premiums. How can I find out if it applies to me, and how does it work?

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