Medicare Part D
$109,000 Income Triggers Medicare IRMAA for Waipahu Filers
WAIPAHU, Hawaii — As Medicare's fall Annual Enrollment Period runs through Dec. 7, higher-income retirees on Oahu are getting a fresh look at something that often catches people off guard: the income-related monthly adjustment amount, better known as IRMAA. For 2026, the surcharge starts once a single filer's income tops $109,000 (or $218,000 for a married couple filing jointly), and it applies to both Part B and Part D premiums.
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Key takeaways
- For 2026, IRMAA starts adding extra cost to Part B and Part D premiums once a single filer's income passes $109,000 (or $218,000 for couples filing jointly).
- IRMAA is calculated automatically by Social Security using your tax return from two years earlier, so 2026 surcharges are usually based on 2024 income, and it applies the same way whether you have Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage.
- If a life-changing event lowered your income after that tax year, you can file Form SSA-44 with documentation to ask Social Security to reduce or remove the surcharge, but this isn't automatic.
- In 2026, Part D will include a $2,100 yearly cap on out-of-pocket drug costs, a maximum deductible of $615, and an option to spread drug costs across the year, and these features apply to everyone regardless of IRMAA.
If that sounds like it could affect you — or a parent or neighbor here in Waipahu — here's a plain-English guide to how IRMAA works, what the 2026 thresholds look like, and how to think through your options.
What IRMAA actually is
IRMAA is not a separate bill or a penalty. It's an extra amount added to your standard Medicare Part B premium and, if you have drug coverage, your Part D premium. Social Security calculates it automatically using your most recent tax return on file with the IRS — usually your income from two years ago. So your 2026 IRMAA is generally based on your 2024 tax return.
The surcharge is tiered. The higher your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), the higher the add-on. Once you cross a threshold — even by a dollar — you move into the next bracket. There is no gradual phase-in.
The 2026 income thresholds
For 2026, IRMAA kicks in above these MAGI levels:
- Single filers: more than $109,000
- Married filing jointly: more than $218,000
- Married filing separately (lived with spouse): a much lower cutoff, starting just above $106,000
From there, the brackets step up several times, with the highest surcharge tier reserved for singles with MAGI at or above roughly $500,000 and couples at or above $750,000. Both the Part B add-on and the Part D add-on rise together as you move up the ladder. Current-year dollar amounts for each tier are posted on Medicare.gov under "Part B costs."
Why this matters right now in Honolulu County
Waipahu is in Honolulu County, where beneficiaries choose between Original Medicare (often paired with a standalone Part D drug plan or a Medigap policy) and Medicare Advantage plans that bundle drug coverage. IRMAA applies the same way regardless of which route you pick — it follows the person, not the plan. So switching from Advantage to Original Medicare (or vice versa) during AEP won't change whether you owe a surcharge.
What can change is your total out-of-pocket picture. In 2026, Part D includes a new $2,100 annual cap on what you pay out of pocket for covered drugs, a maximum deductible of $615, and the option to spread drug costs across the year through the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. Those features exist for everyone — IRMAA or not.
If your income has dropped, you can appeal
This is the part many people miss. If you had a "life-changing event" that lowered your income after the tax year Social Security is using, you can ask for a redetermination. Qualifying events include:
- Retirement or reduced work hours
- Loss of a pension
- Death of a spouse
- Divorce or annulment
- Loss of income-producing property (not from your own choice)
You file Form SSA-44 with the Social Security Administration and include documentation. If approved, your IRMAA can be reduced or removed for the current year. This is worth doing — don't assume it's automatic.
How to decide what to do this fall
A few practical steps for Waipahu readers weighing their 2026 coverage:
1. Check your MAGI. Pull your 2024 tax return and see where you land against the thresholds above. Remember: tax-exempt interest counts. 2. Look at your 2025 income, too. If it's meaningfully lower, you may face IRMAA in 2026 but qualify for relief in 2027 — or you may have grounds to appeal now. 3. Read your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). If you're in a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, your carrier sent one in September outlining what's changing for 2026. 4. Compare on Medicare.gov. The Plan Finder shows every plan available in Honolulu County and lets you enter your prescriptions to see estimated yearly costs. 5. Get free, unbiased help. Hawaii SHIP (Sage PLUS) counselors can walk through your specific situation at no cost.
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 Honolulu County
(MA penetration in Honolulu 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
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
Q: I just retired. Will my IRMAA drop automatically?
Q: Does IRMAA come out of my Social Security check?
Q: If my spouse and I file jointly, do we each pay IRMAA?
- CMS — Medicare costs & IRMAA (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.