Medicare Part D
How IRMAA Adds to Medicare Part B and D in Homestead
HOMESTEAD, Fla. — If you filed a higher-income tax return two years ago, your 2027 Medicare bill may look different than your neighbor's. That's because of IRMAA — the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount — a surcharge added to Part B and Part D premiums for people above certain income thresholds. With the Annual Enrollment Period running Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, now is a good time to understand how the IRMAA brackets work and what you can do if your income has changed.
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Speak to a Licensed Insurance Agent
Click to call 855-729-3240Key takeaways
- IRMAA surcharges in 2026 begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer and $218,000 for a couple filing jointly, based on 2024 tax returns.
- IRMAA is added to both Part B and Part D premiums, and it is billed separately from your plan premium.
- If a life event (like retirement) has cut your income, you can ask Social Security to reconsider your IRMAA using Form SSA-44.
- The Annual Enrollment Period runs Oct. 15 – Dec. 7, and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs Jan. 1 – March 31.
What IRMAA is, in plain English
IRMAA is not a separate bill for a separate service. It's an extra amount added to your standard Part B premium and your Part D drug plan premium when your income is above a set line. Social Security looks at your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) from your tax return two years ago — so 2027 IRMAA is based on what you reported for 2025.
Most people don't pay IRMAA at all. It only applies to higher-income beneficiaries.
The 2027 income thresholds
For 2026, IRMAA kicks in above these income levels, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS):
- Single filer: more than $109,000
- Married filing jointly: more than $218,000
- Married filing separately (lived with spouse): more than $106,000
Above those first thresholds, there are additional brackets that step up as income rises. The higher your MAGI, the larger the surcharge on both Part B and Part D. Social Security mails a letter each year telling you whether IRMAA applies to you and how much it will be.
You can see the current bracket chart at medicare.gov/basics/costs.
How IRMAA is billed
The Part B surcharge is usually pulled from your Social Security check along with your standard Part B premium. The Part D surcharge is billed separately by Medicare — not by your drug plan. This surprises people every year: you can pay your Part D plan premium in full and still get a bill from Medicare for the IRMAA portion.
If you're not yet drawing Social Security, you'll get a quarterly Medicare bill instead.
What if your income has dropped?
This is the part many people miss. If you had a "life-changing event" that lowered your income since the 2024 tax return being used, you can ask Social Security to recalculate. Qualifying events include:
- Retirement or reduced work hours
- Death of a spouse
- Divorce or marriage
- Loss of a pension
- Loss of income-producing property (not from your own choice)
You'll file Form SSA-44 with supporting documents. If approved, Social Security uses your more recent, lower income instead of the two-year-old tax return.
Homestead residents: where to get local help
Homestead is in Miami-Dade County, where Medicare Advantage and Part D options are set at the county level. But IRMAA itself is a federal calculation — it doesn't change by ZIP code. For one-on-one help sorting through your income letter, appealing a surcharge, or comparing drug coverage during AEP, Florida's SHINE program (Florida's State Health Insurance Assistance Program, or SHIP) offers free, unbiased counseling.
You can reach SHINE at 1-800-963-5337.
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 Miami-dade County
(MA penetration in Miami-dade 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 (2027 figures pending) (2027 figures pending)
If your income is above a threshold, you pay an income-related surcharge (IRMAA) on top of your Part B and Part D premiums. The brackets below are for 2026, based on your 2024 tax return. CMS publishes the 2027 brackets later in the fall; the 2027 surcharge will be based on your 2025 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
Why will my 2027 IRMAA be based on my 2025 income?
Do I pay IRMAA if I have a Medicare Advantage plan?
Does IRMAA reset every year?
Where can I see the official 2027 brackets?
- CMS — Medicare costs & IRMAA (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.
Also for Homestead
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This page was last updated: October 6, 2026.