Medicare Part D
2026 IRMAA: Medicare Surcharges Start Above $109,000
AURORA, Colo. — As Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period runs through Dec. 7, higher-income households across Arapahoe County are getting a fresh reminder that what they earned two years ago can quietly reshape what they pay next year. For 2026, the income-related monthly adjustment amount — better known as IRMAA — kicks in for single filers with modified adjusted gross income above $109,000, and for joint filers above $218,000.
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Click to call 855-729-3240Key takeaways
- For 2026, the extra IRMAA charge on Medicare Part B and Part D premiums applies to single filers earning above $109,000 and joint filers earning above $218,000.
- IRMAA is based on your tax return from two years earlier, so your 2026 surcharge generally depends on your 2024 income.
- If your income dropped due to a life-changing event, you can file Form SSA-44 with Social Security to ask for a more recent income figure to be used.
- The Annual Enrollment Period runs through Dec. 7, and Medicare.gov's Plan Finder tool can help you compare drug coverage and plan options by county.
Here is what that means, in plain English, and how to think about it before the season closes.
What IRMAA actually is
IRMAA is not a separate bill or a penalty. It is an extra amount added to your standard Medicare Part B premium and to your Part D drug plan premium if your income is above certain thresholds. Most people on Medicare do not pay it. But if you do, it shows up automatically — usually deducted from Social Security — and it can catch new enrollees off guard.
The Social Security Administration decides whether IRMAA applies by looking at your most recent tax return on file, which is typically from two years earlier. So your 2026 surcharge is generally based on your 2024 income.
The 2026 income brackets, in a nutshell
For 2026, IRMAA begins above $109,000 for a single filer and above $218,000 for a married couple filing jointly. From there, the surcharge steps up through several tiers, with the largest add-on falling on the highest earners. Married people who file separately have their own, narrower rules that start at a much lower income level.
Both Part B and Part D surcharges follow the same income brackets, but they are calculated separately and added to two different premiums. Medicare.gov publishes the exact dollar amount for each tier each fall; that is the source to trust for the specific numbers.
Why 2024 income matters for 2026
Because IRMAA looks back two years, one-time events in 2024 — selling a home, cashing out stock, taking a large IRA distribution, or converting to a Roth — can bump you into a higher tier for 2026, even if your income has since dropped.
If your income fell after a life-changing event, you can ask Social Security to use more recent figures. Qualifying events include:
- Marriage, divorce, or the death of a spouse
- Work stoppage or reduced work hours (including retirement)
- Loss of pension income
- Loss of income-producing property from a disaster or event outside your control
The form is SSA-44, and you file it with documentation. This is one of the most overlooked tools in Medicare, and it exists precisely because "two years ago" does not always reflect real life.
How this fits with the rest of your 2026 costs
IRMAA is one line item in a bigger picture. A few other 2026 program facts worth knowing as you compare coverage:
- Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100. Once your covered drug costs hit that ceiling, you pay $0 for covered drugs the rest of the year.
- Part D maximum deductible: $615 (plans can set theirs lower).
- The old "donut hole" coverage gap is gone as of 2025. Part D now has three phases: deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic.
- Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: an optional, no-interest way to spread drug costs across the calendar year in monthly installments instead of paying at the pharmacy counter.
None of these interact with IRMAA directly, but they change the math on which type of coverage — Original Medicare with a standalone drug plan, or Medicare Advantage with drug coverage built in — fits your situation.
What Aurora residents can do this season
Aurora sits primarily in Arapahoe County (with parts in Adams and Douglas), and plan availability is set at the county level. If you want to know how many Medicare Advantage or Part D plans serve your specific ZIP code, the Plan Finder at Medicare.gov is the authoritative tool — it filters by county and shows every plan you are eligible for.
Before Dec. 7, it is worth taking 20 minutes to:
1. Pull your 2024 tax return and check where your MAGI actually landed. 2. Log in to your my Social Security account to see if an IRMAA determination letter is on file. 3. If your income has dropped, look at SSA-44 to see if you qualify for a reconsideration. 4. Use Plan Finder to compare drug coverage using your actual medication list.
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 Arapahoe County
(MA penetration in Arapahoe 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
2026 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 2026 surcharge is based on your 2024 tax return.
| 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
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.
Explore
When can you enroll? An interactive year
Enrollment windows are federal and the same nationwide. Confirm your personal dates at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Q: Do I get to appeal my IRMAA?
Q: Does IRMAA apply if I only have Part A?
Q: I'm still working and have employer coverage. Do I still owe IRMAA?
- CMS — Medicare Part D program rules (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.