Medicare Part D
Why Glenview filers may owe more for Medicare in 2027
GLENVIEW, Ill. — If your income has climbed in recent years, a letter from Social Security this fall may catch your eye. For 2026, Medicare's income-related monthly adjustment amount — better known as IRMAA — kicks in once a single filer's income tops $109,000, or $218,000 for a married couple filing jointly. That surcharge is added to both Part B and Part D premiums, and it's tied to the tax return you filed two years ago.
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Key takeaways
- For 2026, Medicare's IRMAA surcharge starts once a single filer's income tops $109,000, or $218,000 for a married couple filing jointly, and applies on top of standard Part B and Part D premiums.
- IRMAA is based on your tax return from two years earlier, so a one-time event like selling a home or a Roth conversion in 2025 could raise your 2027 surcharge even if your income is lower now.
- If a life-changing event has lowered your income, you can file Form SSA-44 with Social Security to ask for a new IRMAA determination, using documentation like an employer statement, death certificate, or divorce papers.
- The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027; the maximum Part D deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027. The coverage gap ("donut hole") no longer exists, and Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period runs through Dec. 7.
Here's what Glenview residents should know before Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period closes on Dec. 7.
What IRMAA actually is
IRMAA is not a separate bill or a penalty. It's an extra amount added on top of the standard Part B premium and the Part D premium for people whose reported income is above a set threshold. Social Security decides who owes it based on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) — usually from your 2025 tax return for 2027 surcharges.
If you owe IRMAA on Part B, it's typically deducted from your Social Security check. The Part D surcharge is billed separately by Medicare, even if your drug plan premium is paid to a private insurer.
The 2026 income brackets
IRMAA is structured in tiers. The higher your income, the higher the surcharge on both Part B and Part D. CMS publishes the 2027 thresholds later this fall, usually in November. For reference, the 2026 starting thresholds are:
- Single filers: MAGI above $109,000
- Married filing jointly: MAGI above $218,000
- Married filing separately (lived with spouse): a much lower threshold applies
From there, the brackets step up at roughly $30,000–$50,000 intervals for singles (double for joint filers), with the top tier reaching incomes of $500,000 or more single / $750,000 or more joint. The exact dollar amount added at each tier is published by CMS on Medicare.gov each fall.
Why the 2025 tax return matters
Because IRMAA uses a two-year lookback, life changes that happened after 2025 aren't automatically reflected. That trips up a lot of new retirees. A one-time event in 2025 — selling a home, cashing out an old 401(k), a Roth conversion, or capital gains — can push you into an IRMAA bracket for 2027 even if your income is much lower now.
The good news: you can ask Social Security to reconsider.
Life-changing events that can lower IRMAA
If a "life-changing event" has cut your income since the tax year Social Security used, you can file Form SSA-44 to request a new determination. Qualifying events include:
- Marriage, divorce, or the death of a spouse
- You or your spouse stopped working or reduced hours
- Loss of pension income
- Loss of income-producing property (not due to a sale)
Bring documentation — a signed statement from an employer, a death certificate, or divorce papers — to your local Social Security office or file by mail.
Where Glenview fits in
Glenview is in Cook County, which has one of the widest ranges of Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D options in Illinois. Availability itself doesn't change your IRMAA — that's set by income, not ZIP code — but if you're comparing coverage during Annual Enrollment (Oct. 15–Dec. 7), remember that any Part D plan you pick will carry the same IRMAA surcharge on top of its premium if you're above the threshold.
Also worth knowing: the Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027, and the maximum Part D deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027. The old coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone. If drug costs are a concern, ask about the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, which lets you spread out-of-pocket drug costs across the year.
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 Cook County
(MA penetration in Cook 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 2027 surcharge is based on your 2025 tax return. CMS publishes the 2027 brackets and surcharge amounts later this fall.
| 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. Do I still owe IRMAA based on my old salary?
Q: Is IRMAA permanent?
Q: Does IRMAA apply if I have Medicare Advantage?
- CMS — Medicare costs & IRMAA (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.