Medicare Part D
$109,000 Income Triggers Medicare IRMAA in New London
NEW LONDON, Conn. — As Medicare's fall Annual Enrollment Period runs through Dec. 7, some higher-income retirees along the Connecticut shoreline are getting a reminder that what they earned two years ago still shows up on this year's Medicare bill. It's called IRMAA — the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount — and for 2026, the surcharge kicks in once individual income tops $109,000.
Compare Medicare Part D options near you
Answer 3 quick questions to see Medicare Part D listings from licensed insurance partners.
What’s your ZIP code?
Plan availability is set by your county, so we start here.
How old are you?
This helps match you with options you’re eligible for.
Do you have Medicare Parts A & B?
This affects which Medicare Part D options you can choose.
These listings are provided by licensed insurance partners.
Will your prescriptions still be covered in 2027?
Part D plans rewrite their drug lists every year — tiers move, pharmacies change, drugs drop off. One call checks your exact medications against the 2027 plans in your area.
- Every prescription checked, name by name
- Your pharmacy checked for preferred pricing
Available now — current wait: 0 min
A real person answers. No phone menu, ever.
Want to see more plan options?
Answer a few more questions to continue to additional options from licensed partners.
Continue →Advertising disclosure: MyMedicarePlans.org may be compensated when you contact a partner or licensed agent. Listings are not ranked or endorsed by us, and we do not recommend specific plans. You can also contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.
Speak to a Licensed Insurance Agent
Click to call 855-729-3240
Key takeaways
- Medicare's fall Annual Enrollment Period runs through Dec. 7, and for 2026, IRMAA surcharges start once an individual's income tops $109,000.
- IRMAA is not a separate bill but an extra amount added to your Part B and, if applicable, Part D premiums, based on your income from two years earlier (your 2024 tax return sets your 2026 costs).
- If your income has dropped since 2024 due to a qualifying life-changing event, you can file Form SSA-44 with Social Security to ask for a recalculation, since many people who qualify never file and end up overpaying for a full year.
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment runs Jan. 1 – March 31, giving new Medicare enrollees another chance to change plans if their first choice isn't the right fit.
If that sounds like a small detail, it isn't. IRMAA can add hundreds of dollars a year to what you pay for Part B and Part D, and it catches many people by surprise the first time it hits.
What IRMAA actually is
IRMAA is not a separate bill or a penalty. It's an extra amount added to your standard Part B premium and, if you have drug coverage, to your Part D premium. Social Security withholds the Part B piece from your monthly benefit; the Part D piece is billed separately, even if your drug plan premium is paid another way.
The key thing to remember: IRMAA is based on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) from two years earlier. So your 2026 Medicare costs are based on your 2024 tax return.
The 2026 income thresholds
For 2026, IRMAA surcharges begin above these MAGI levels (based on your 2024 return):
- Single filers: more than $109,000
- Married filing jointly: more than $218,000
- Married filing separately: a much lower threshold applies
Above those first tiers, there are additional brackets that step up as income rises, with the highest surcharges applying to individuals with MAGI at or above roughly $500,000 (or $750,000 for couples). Both the Part B and Part D adjustments follow the same income tiers, though the dollar amounts differ.
The full 2026 bracket chart is posted on Medicare.gov under "Costs."
Why so many people in southeastern Connecticut get tripped up
New London is in New London County, home to a lot of retirees from Electric Boat, Pfizer, the Coast Guard, and state and municipal pensions — the kind of steady, middle-class income streams that can nudge someone over a bracket without them realizing it.
A few common triggers:
- A one-time capital gain. Selling a house, a boat, or a chunk of stock in 2024 could push you across a threshold for 2026.
- A Roth conversion. Great long-term planning move, but it counts as income in the year you convert.
- Required Minimum Distributions. Once RMDs begin, taxable income often jumps.
- The death of a spouse. Filing single after years of filing jointly can move you into a higher bracket quickly.
Life-changing events: you can appeal
Here's the part most people miss. If your income has dropped since 2024 because of a specific life event, you can ask Social Security to recalculate. Qualifying events include:
- Retirement or reduced work hours
- Marriage, divorce, or the death of a spouse
- Loss of a pension
- Loss of income-producing property from a disaster or other event beyond your control
You file Form SSA-44 ("Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount — Life-Changing Event") with documentation. Many people who should file this form never do — and they overpay for a full year as a result.
How IRMAA fits into the rest of 2026 Medicare
Even if IRMAA applies to you, other 2026 rules still work in your favor:
- Part D out-of-pocket costs are capped at $2,100 for the year.
- The maximum Part D deductible is $615.
- The old coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone; Part D now has three simpler phases.
- The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs into level monthly payments instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter.
None of that erases IRMAA, but it means the drug-cost side of your budget is more predictable than it used to be — even at higher income levels.
What to do during Annual Enrollment
Between now and Dec. 7, take a few minutes to:
1. Look at last year's SSA notice showing your IRMAA amount, if you got one. 2. Pull your 2024 tax return and see where your MAGI landed. 3. If you had a life-changing event, download SSA-44. 4. Review your drug plan for 2026 — plans change formularies and premiums every year, and the Part D IRMAA rides on top of whatever premium you choose.
If you're new to Medicare, remember that Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment also runs Jan. 1 – March 31, giving you one more window to make a change if your first choice isn't the right fit.
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.
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
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 ever go away?
I'm still working past 65. Does my paycheck count toward IRMAA?
My spouse and I file jointly but only one of us is on Medicare. Whose income counts?
- CMS — Medicare costs & IRMAA (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.