Medicare Part D
Medicare IRMAA in Ozark: 2027 Part B & Part D Rules
Ozark, Mo. — As Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period runs through Dec. 7, higher-income retirees in Christian County are getting a closer look at a rule that often catches people off guard: the income-related monthly adjustment amount, or IRMAA. For 2026, these surcharges kick in once a single filer's income tops $109,000, and they can raise what you pay for both Part B and Part D.
Compare Medicare Part D options near you
Answer 3 quick questions to see Medicare Part D listings from licensed insurance partners.
What’s your ZIP code?
Plan availability is set by your county, so we start here.
How old are you?
This helps match you with options you’re eligible for.
Do you have Medicare Parts A & B?
This affects which Medicare Part D options you can choose.
These listings are provided by licensed insurance partners.
Will your prescriptions still be covered in 2027?
Part D plans rewrite their drug lists every year — tiers move, pharmacies change, drugs drop off. One call checks your exact medications against the 2027 plans in your area.
- Every prescription checked, name by name
- Your pharmacy checked for preferred pricing
Available now — current wait: 0 min
A real person answers. No phone menu, ever.
Advertising disclosure: MyMedicarePlans.org may be compensated when you contact a partner or licensed agent. Listings are not ranked or endorsed by us, and we do not recommend specific plans. You can also contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.
Speak to a Licensed Insurance Agent
Click to call 855-729-3240
Key takeaways
- IRMAA surcharges for 2026 begin when a single filer's income is above $109,000 (or above $218,000 for a couple filing jointly).
- The extra amount is added to both your Part B premium and your Part D premium, and it's billed separately from your plan.
- Social Security bases your 2027 IRMAA on your 2025 tax return, so a one-time income event two years ago can affect you now.
- If your income has dropped due to a life event like retirement, you can ask Social Security to reconsider using Form SSA-44.
Here's what Ozark readers need to know before year-end.
What IRMAA actually is
IRMAA stands for "income-related monthly adjustment amount." It's an extra charge added on top of the standard Part B premium and on top of whatever Part D premium your drug plan charges. It is not a penalty for signing up late — that's a different fee. IRMAA is simply a higher share of the program's cost that Medicare asks higher-income beneficiaries to pay.
About 8% of people with Medicare pay IRMAA in a given year, according to CMS. The other 92% pay the standard Part B premium with no surcharge.
The income thresholds for 2027
For 2026, the first IRMAA tier begins at more than $109,000 in income for a single filer and more than $218,000 for a married couple filing jointly. From there, the surcharge rises in five brackets, with the highest tier applying to single filers with income of $500,000 or more (or $750,000 for joint filers).
The surcharge applies to Part B and Part D separately. So a higher-income retiree in Ozark could see two adjustments in the same month — one added to the Part B premium that comes out of their Social Security check, and one billed alongside their drug plan.
For the exact dollar amounts by bracket, Medicare updates the full chart each fall on medicare.gov.
Why your 2024 tax return matters
Social Security uses your most recent IRS data — usually your tax return from two years ago — to decide whether you owe IRMAA. That means your 2027 surcharge is based on your 2025 modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). CMS publishes the 2027 IRMAA brackets later this fall.
MAGI includes your adjusted gross income plus any tax-exempt interest. A big one-time event in 2025 — selling a house, cashing out a retirement account, taking a large Roth conversion — can push you into an IRMAA bracket for 2027 even if your income is much lower now.
What to do if your income has dropped
If you had a "life-changing event" that reduced your income, you can appeal. Qualifying events include:
- Retirement or reduced work hours
- Loss of a spouse
- Divorce
- Loss of pension income
- Loss of income-producing property
To request a reconsideration, file Form SSA-44 with the Social Security Administration and include documentation of the change. You do not have to wait for a decision letter — you can file as soon as the event happens.
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 Christian County
(MA penetration in Christian 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.
How this fits with other 2027 changes
IRMAA isn't the only cost rule shifting for 2027. The Part D annual out-of-pocket cap on covered prescriptions 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 (the "donut hole") is gone as of 2025, replaced by a simpler three-phase structure. And anyone who wants to spread drug costs across the calendar year can opt into the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan through their Part D plan.
None of those changes remove IRMAA — but for people who do owe a surcharge, the new drug cap does put a firm ceiling on one large part of their Medicare spending.
Local help in Ozark
Ozark sits in Christian County, where Medicare plan availability is set at the county level. For questions specific to your situation — including whether IRMAA applies to you and how to appeal — you have a few free options:
- Medicare.gov for the official IRMAA brackets and Part B/Part D rules; CMS publishes the 2027 figures later this fall.
- 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24/7.
- Missouri CLAIM, the state's SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program), which offers free, unbiased counseling to Missouri residents. Call 1-800-390-3330.
- Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 for IRMAA determinations and SSA-44 appeals.
Higher-income surcharges
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 later this fall; the 2026 chart on medicare.gov applies until then.
| 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 apply to everyone on Medicare?
Why is Medicare using my old tax return?
Is IRMAA the same as the late enrollment penalty?
How is the Part D surcharge collected?
- CMS — Medicare costs & IRMAA (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.
Content Integrity Standards
- No invented figures. Program-level numbers come from CMS / Medicare.gov; we never use placeholder data.
- No plan rankings or recommendations. This is educational content. We don't rank, score, or recommend specific plans.
- AI-assisted, human-reviewed. Articles are produced with AI-assisted tools and reviewed by the responsible desk before publishing.
- Inline sourcing. Facts and figures are cited to primary sources — CMS, SSA, and Medicare.gov.
- Correction transparency. We fix errors openly and note when a page was last updated.
- Not a government site. MyMedicarePlans.org is privately owned and not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
This page was last updated: October 6, 2026.