Medicare Part D
2027 Medicare income surcharges in Portage
Portage, Ind. — As Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period runs through Dec. 7, many Porter County retirees are opening letters from Social Security that spell out what they'll pay for Part B and Part D in 2027 — and for higher earners, those amounts depend on a tax return filed nearly two years ago.
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Key takeaways
- IRMAA is an income-based surcharge added to Part B and Part D premiums, not a penalty, when income is above set limits.
- For 2026, the surcharge starts for single filers with income above $109,000 and married couples filing jointly above $218,000, based on their 2024 tax return.
- A one-time income bump, like selling a house or a large IRA withdrawal, can trigger IRMAA even if current income is lower, but a life-changing event can be reported to Social Security using Form SSA-44 to have it recalculated.
- Annual Enrollment runs through Dec. 7, and Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment runs Jan. 1 through March 31, giving people time to review drug coverage costs even though IRMAA still applies above the income thresholds.
The extra charge is called IRMAA, short for the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. It's not a penalty and it's not tied to your health. It's simply an income-based surcharge that Medicare adds to your Part B and Part D premiums when your reported income crosses certain thresholds.
Here's what Portage-area readers should know as they weigh coverage for 2027.
What IRMAA is, in plain English
Most people on Medicare pay the standard Part B premium and whatever their Part D plan charges for prescription coverage. But if your income is above a set limit, Medicare adds a monthly surcharge on top of both.
Social Security looks at your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) from your tax return two years back. So your 2027 premiums will be based on your 2025 tax return. That two-year lookback catches a lot of people by surprise, especially in the year after they retire.
The surcharge is billed as part of your Part B premium (usually deducted from Social Security) and added to your Part D premium separately, even if your drug coverage is bundled into a Medicare Advantage plan.
The income thresholds for 2027
For 2026, IRMAA starts kicking in for a single filer with MAGI above $109,000, and for married couples filing jointly above $218,000. Below those numbers, you pay the standard premiums with no surcharge.
Above those thresholds, IRMAA is tiered — the higher your income, the higher the surcharge, in five brackets. Married couples who file separately have their own, tighter schedule that begins at a much lower income level.
For the exact dollar amounts in each tier, the official source is Medicare.gov's "Costs" page and the Social Security Administration's annual IRMAA notice. The 2027 brackets and surcharges are published by CMS later in the fall, usually in November, alongside the 2027 Part B figures.
Why the two-year lookback matters
Because Medicare will use your 2025 return to set your 2027 premium, a one-time bump in income — selling a house, cashing out an old investment, taking a large IRA withdrawal, or receiving a severance — can push you into an IRMAA bracket even if your current income is much lower.
The good news: if your income has dropped because of a specific life-changing event, you can ask Social Security to use a more recent year instead. Qualifying events include:
- Marriage, divorce, or the death of a spouse
- Work stoppage or reduced work hours (retirement counts)
- Loss of pension income
- An employer settlement payment
You file Form SSA-44 with documentation. If approved, Social Security recalculates your premium.
How this connects to your 2027 drug coverage
IRMAA is separate from the Part D changes taking effect next year. In 2027, Part D includes:
- An annual out-of-pocket cap on covered prescription drugs of $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027
- A maximum deductible of $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027
- The old "donut hole" coverage gap is gone — Part D now has three simpler phases
- The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, which lets you spread drug costs across monthly installments instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy
None of those changes remove IRMAA if your income is above the threshold, but they do change the full picture of what you'll spend on medications in 2027. That's worth reviewing during Annual Enrollment (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7, 2026), and again during Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment (Jan. 1 – March 31, 2027) if you're in an Advantage plan.
What Portage residents can do now
Portage is in Porter County, where a range of stand-alone Part D plans and Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage are available. Plan availability is set at the county level, not by ZIP code or city.
A few practical steps:
1. Pull your 2025 tax return and check your MAGI against the 2027 thresholds once CMS publishes them this fall. 2. If you had a life-changing event, ask about Form SSA-44 at your local Social Security office. 3. Use the Plan Finder at Medicare.gov to compare drug plans using your actual prescription list — the tool shows total yearly cost, reflecting the 2027 out-of-pocket cap. 4. For free, unbiased help, contact Indiana SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program), which serves Porter County residents 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 Porter County
(MA penetration in Porter 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
IRMAA income brackets for 2026
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 will be based on your 2025 tax return. CMS publishes the 2027 brackets and surcharge amounts later in the 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
Does IRMAA ever go away on its own?
I just retired in 2026. Will Medicare use my old, higher salary?
Do I pay IRMAA on both Part B and Part D?
- CMS — Medicare costs & IRMAA (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.