Medicare Part D
IRMAA & Your 2027 Medicare in Hemet, Calif.
HEMET, Calif. — As the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period runs through Dec. 7, higher-income retirees in the Inland Empire are getting a fresh look at something that often catches people off guard: the income-related surcharge that can push Part B and Part D premiums well above the standard amount in 2027.
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Key takeaways
- IRMAA surcharges begin in 2026 when a single filer's income tops $109,000, or roughly double that for a married couple filing jointly.
- Social Security uses your tax return from two years ago (2025 income for 2027 premiums) to decide whether you owe IRMAA.
- If your income has dropped because of a life event like retirement or a spouse's death, you can ask Social Security to recalculate using form SSA-44.
- The Annual Enrollment Period ends Dec. 7, and you can compare Part D options for 2027 at medicare.gov or through your local SHIP counselor.
The surcharge is called IRMAA — the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. It isn't a penalty and it isn't a mistake on your bill. It's an extra amount Medicare adds to your monthly premiums when your income crosses certain thresholds. For 2026, that first threshold sits at $109,000 for a single filer, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Here's what Hemet-area readers should understand before open enrollment ends.
What IRMAA actually is
Most people on Medicare pay the standard Part B premium and whatever premium their Part D drug plan charges. But if your income is above a set threshold, Medicare adds a surcharge on top of both. That extra amount is IRMAA.
You'll see it two places: added to your Part B premium (usually taken out of your Social Security check) and added to your Part D premium (billed separately, even if your drug plan itself has a low premium).
IRMAA is set by Social Security, not your insurance company. Switching plans won't make it go away.
The income thresholds that set IRMAA
For 2026, the surcharge kicks in above these income levels, based on your modified adjusted gross income:
- Single filer: above $109,000
- Married filing jointly: above $218,000
- Married filing separately: a much lower threshold applies, generally around $106,000
From there, the surcharge climbs through several higher brackets. The highest bracket applies to single filers with income at or above roughly $500,000 and joint filers at or above roughly $750,000. The exact dollar amounts of each surcharge tier are published by CMS at medicare.gov.
Because the brackets aren't gradual, going even a dollar over a threshold can bump you into the next tier. That's why some retirees plan Roth conversions, capital gains, or large withdrawals carefully around year-end.
Why your 2025 taxes will decide your 2027 premium
This is the part that surprises people most. Social Security looks back two years to set your current IRMAA. So your 2027 Part B and Part D premiums will be based on the income reported on your 2025 tax return.
If you had a strong earning year in 2025 — maybe you sold a home, took a large IRA distribution, or were still working — that income will follow you into 2027 even if you're now living on a much smaller retirement budget.
When you can appeal
You can ask Social Security to reduce or remove your IRMAA if you've had a qualifying "life-changing event." That includes:
- Retirement or reduced work hours
- Marriage, divorce, or the death of a spouse
- Loss of a pension
- Loss of income-producing property through a disaster or event beyond your control
The form is SSA-44, and you file it with Social Security along with documentation. If approved, they'll use your more recent, lower income instead of the two-year-old figure.
How this fits into the rest of 2027
IRMAA is only one piece of the 2027 Medicare picture. A few other program-level changes are worth knowing while you're reviewing coverage:
- Part D now has a $2,100 in 2026 ($2,400 in 2027) annual out-of-pocket cap on covered prescriptions.
- The Part D deductible can be no higher than $615 in 2026.
- The old coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone — Part D now has three phases.
- The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the calendar year in monthly installments instead of paying at the pharmacy counter.
Hemet is in Riverside County, where 68 Medicare Advantage plans from 18 carriers are available for 2027, along with stand-alone Part D options. You can see the full list, along with each plan's premium and formulary, using the Plan Finder at medicare.gov.
What to do before Dec. 7
If you think IRMAA may apply to you in 2027, take a few minutes to:
1. Pull your 2025 tax return and check your modified adjusted gross income. 2. Compare it to the most recent published thresholds. 3. If a life-changing event has lowered your income since, download SSA-44. 4. Review your Part D or Medicare Advantage drug coverage for 2027 — the surcharge follows you no matter which plan you pick, so choose based on your drugs and pharmacies.
For personalized help in Riverside County, California's SHIP program — called HICAP — offers free, unbiased counseling by phone and in person. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), 24 hours a day.
By the numbers
Medicare Part B premium, 2006–2026
The standard monthly Part B premium has climbed from $88.50 in 2006 to $202.90 in 2026. Hover any point for that year’s premium.
Source: CMS. Standard premium shown; in some hold-harmless years many existing enrollees paid less. Confirm at Medicare.gov.
By the numbers
How people get Medicare in Riverside County
(MA penetration in Riverside County)
MA penetration from CMS enrollment data; Medigap share is an estimate. U.S. average is about 54% Medicare Advantage. These are area-level figures, not plan-specific.
Higher-income surcharges
IRMAA income brackets
If your income is above a threshold, you pay an income-related surcharge (IRMAA) on top of your Part B and Part D premiums. Your 2027 surcharge will be based on your 2025 tax return. CMS publishes the 2027 brackets later in the fall; the 2026 figures below remain in effect through year-end.
| Income — single filer | Income — married, joint | Part B monthly premium | Part D surcharge |
|---|---|---|---|
| $109,000 or less | $218,000 or less | $202.90 | Plan premium only |
| $109,001 – $137,000 | $218,001 – $274,000 | $284.10 | + $14.50 |
| $137,001 – $171,000 | $274,001 – $342,000 | $405.80 | + $37.40 |
| $171,001 – $205,000 | $342,001 – $410,000 | $527.50 | + $60.40 |
| $205,001 – $500,000 | $410,001 – $750,000 | $649.30 | + $83.30 |
| Above $500,000 | Above $750,000 | $689.90 | + $91.00 |
Standard Part B premium is $202.90/month. Part D surcharges are added to your drug plan’s premium. Married-filing-separately uses a different, compressed schedule. Confirm current amounts at Medicare.gov.
Try it
Find your 2026 Medicare premium
Most people pay the standard Part B premium. If your 2024 income was higher, an income-related surcharge (IRMAA) applies. Enter your details to see your bracket.
Surcharges are added to your premiums and based on your 2024 tax return. Married-filing-separately uses a different schedule. Confirm at Medicare.gov.
Try it
How the 2026 Part D drug cap works
Slide to your estimated yearly prescription costs and see how the new $2,100 out-of-pocket cap protects you. This illustrates the standard Part D benefit; your plan may structure costs differently.
Once your out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs reaches $2,100, you pay nothing more for the rest of 2026. Confirm details at Medicare.gov.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Does IRMAA go away once I switch to a cheaper Medicare plan?
Why is Medicare using my income from two years ago?
Do both spouses pay IRMAA if only one of us is on Medicare?
Where can I check the exact 2027 IRMAA amounts?
- CMS — Medicare costs & IRMAA (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.
Also for Hemet
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This page was last updated: October 6, 2026.