Medicare Part D
Topeka Medicare Part B & Part D Income Limits 2027
TOPEKA, Kan. — As Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period runs through Dec. 7, higher-income households in Shawnee County are getting a closer look at a line item many people forget until it hits their bank statement: the income-related monthly adjustment amount, better known as IRMAA.
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Key takeaways
- Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period runs through Dec. 7, and IRMAA is an extra amount added to Part B and Part D premiums for people whose income is above set thresholds, not a separate bill or penalty.
- Your 2027 IRMAA surcharge will be based on your 2025 tax return's modified adjusted gross income (AGI plus tax-exempt interest), and CMS says most people on Medicare do not pay this surcharge.
- Part B surcharges are usually deducted from your Social Security check, while Part D surcharges are billed separately by Medicare even though your plan premium goes to your plan, and this applies whether you have a stand-alone Part D plan or drug coverage through Medicare Advantage.
- If your 2024 income was unusually high due to a one-time event like retirement, a spouse's death, divorce, or selling property, you can file Form SSA-44 with documentation to ask Social Security to reconsider your IRMAA amount.
Topeka retirees, here's what income means for your 2027 Medicare bill
For 2027, the income thresholds that trigger these Part B and Part D surcharges have not yet been published. CMS typically announces the 2027 IRMAA brackets later this fall, alongside the Part B figures. If your income crossed a certain line two years ago, Social Security may add an extra charge to your Medicare premiums next year — even if nothing else about your coverage changes.
Here's what Topeka readers should know before the enrollment window closes.
What IRMAA is, in plain English
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, your Part D premium. It applies only to people whose income sits above set thresholds.
Medicare looks back two years to decide. So your 2027 surcharge will be based on your 2025 tax return — specifically your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), which is your AGI plus any tax-exempt interest.
Most people on Medicare do not pay IRMAA. According to CMS, the surcharge affects a minority of beneficiaries — typically those with higher retirement income, large Roth conversions, or a big one-time event like selling a home or a business.
The 2026 income thresholds
For 2026, IRMAA kicks in above these income levels (based on your 2024 return):
- Single filers: MAGI above $109,000
- Married filing jointly: MAGI above $218,000
- Married filing separately: a much lower threshold applies, so check medicare.gov directly
Above those first thresholds, surcharges climb through five tiers. The higher your income, the higher both the Part B and Part D add-ons. Social Security — not your plan — sends the notice and collects the extra amount.
How it shows up on Part B and Part D
If you owe IRMAA, you'll see it in two places:
1. Part B: The surcharge is added to the standard Part B premium and usually deducted from your Social Security check. 2. Part D: The surcharge is billed separately by Medicare, even though your drug plan premium itself is still paid to your plan. This surprises a lot of people the first year.
The Part D surcharge applies whether you get drug coverage through a stand-alone Part D plan or through a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drugs.
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 Shawnee County
(MA penetration in Shawnee 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.
A note on 2027 drug cost changes
Even if IRMAA doesn't apply to you, 2027 brings changes worth knowing about:
- The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 ($2,400 in 2027) for the year. Once you hit that, you pay $0 for covered drugs the rest of the calendar year.
- The Part D deductible maximum is $615 in 2026 ($700 in 2027).
- The old coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone. Part D now has three phases instead of four.
- The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs into monthly installments across the year instead of paying large amounts at the pharmacy counter. It's optional and free to join.
What Topeka has locally
Topeka is in Shawnee County, where Medicare beneficiaries can choose from Original Medicare plus a stand-alone Part D plan, or a Medicare Advantage plan. Multiple carriers offer coverage in the county, and the specific plan counts change each year as insurers file with CMS.
To see the current list for your ZIP code, use the Plan Finder at medicare.gov/plan-compare. It will show every plan available in Shawnee County and let you enter your prescriptions to see estimated yearly costs.
What to do if your income has dropped
If your 2024 income was unusually high because of a one-time event — retirement, a spouse's death, divorce, or the sale of property — you can ask Social Security to reconsider. File Form SSA-44 ("Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount – Life-Changing Event") with documentation. Many people don't realize this option exists.
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. The 2026 brackets below are based on your 2024 tax return; the 2027 brackets will be published by CMS 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
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.
Explore
When can you enroll? An interactive year
Enrollment windows are federal and the same nationwide. Confirm your personal dates at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Q: I just retired this year. Will I still pay IRMAA in 2027?
Q: Does IRMAA ever go away?
Q: I have a Medicare Advantage plan. Do I still pay a Part D IRMAA?
- CMS — Medicare Part D program rules (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.