Medicare Part D
Greensboro Medicare: 2027 Thresholds — Part B & D
GREENSBORO, N.C. — As Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period runs through Dec. 7, higher-earning retirees in the Triad are getting a closer look at something that catches many people off guard: an income-based surcharge that can raise both Part B and Part D premiums in 2027.
Compare Medicare options near you
Answer 3 quick questions to see Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and 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?
Most Medicare Advantage and Medigap options require both.
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.
Want to see more plan options?
Answer a few more questions to continue to additional options from licensed partners.
Continue →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 855-729-3240Key takeaways
- Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period runs through Dec. 7, and it's a good time to check if an income-related surcharge called IRMAA applies to you.
- In 2026, IRMAA adds extra costs to Part B and Part D premiums once income rises above $109,000 for single filers or about double that for married couples filing jointly.
- Your 2027 surcharge is based on your 2025 income, so a one-time event like a home sale or big withdrawal can trigger it even if your income has since gone back down.
- If a life-changing event lowered your income, you can file Form SSA-44 to ask Social Security to recalculate your surcharge, and note that picking a lower-premium plan won't reduce the IRMAA charge itself.
The surcharge is called IRMAA — the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. It isn't a penalty, and it isn't tied to any specific plan. It's an extra amount the Social Security Administration adds to your Medicare premiums when your income crosses certain lines. Here's how it works heading into 2027, and what to check before the enrollment window closes.
What IRMAA is, in plain English
Most people on Medicare pay the standard Part B premium and whatever their Part D drug plan charges. But if your income is above a set threshold, Medicare adds a monthly surcharge on top of both.
Two important points:
- IRMAA is based on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) from your tax return two years earlier. For 2027, that means your 2025 tax return.
- The surcharge applies to Part B and Part D separately, even if your Part D coverage is bundled into a Medicare Advantage plan.
The 2027 income thresholds
For 2026, IRMAA surcharges begin above $109,000 in income for a single filer (and above roughly double that for a married couple filing jointly). Income above that first threshold triggers the smallest surcharge, and the amount steps up at higher income tiers.
A few things worth knowing:
- The thresholds are set by CMS each year and are published at medicare.gov.
- If your income is at or below the first threshold, you pay the standard Part B premium and no Part D surcharge — regardless of which plan you choose.
- The Part D piece of IRMAA is paid to Medicare, not to your drug plan. Your plan's own premium is separate.
Why 2025 income matters for 2027
Because Social Security looks back two years, the income you reported for 2025 is what determines your 2027 surcharge. That timing catches people who retired recently, sold a home, took a large IRA withdrawal, or did a Roth conversion.
If you had a one-time bump in 2024, don't panic — the higher premium usually lasts only for the year or years your income was elevated, then drops back once your more recent tax data catches up.
When you can ask for a reconsideration
Social Security allows you to request a review if you've had a qualifying life-changing event that reduced your income. Common examples include:
- Retirement or reduced work hours
- Death of a spouse
- Divorce or annulment
- Loss of pension income
You file Form SSA-44 with documentation. If approved, Social Security recalculates your surcharge using your expected current income rather than the older tax return. This is one of the most useful — and most overlooked — tools available to people newly on Medicare.
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 Guilford County
(MA penetration in Guilford 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 number changing next year. A few program-level facts to keep in mind as you review coverage:
- Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once your drug spending reaches that amount, you pay nothing for covered drugs the rest of the year.
- Part D maximum deductible: $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.
- Coverage gap ("donut hole"): eliminated as of 2025. Part D now has three phases instead of four.
- Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: an optional way to spread your drug costs into level monthly payments across the year.
Greensboro is in Guilford County, where beneficiaries have a wide range of stand-alone Part D and Medicare Advantage options during Annual Enrollment. For 2027 the county has 81 Medicare Advantage plans from 13 carriers, including AmeriHealth Caritas VIP Care, new to the county. IRMAA applies no matter which plan you pick, so changing plans doesn't reduce the surcharge — but it can still affect your overall costs.
What to do before Dec. 7
- Pull your 2024 tax return and check your MAGI against the 2026 thresholds on medicare.gov.
- If your income has dropped since 2024, ask Social Security about Form SSA-44.
- Compare Part D or Medicare Advantage drug coverage using the Plan Finder at medicare.gov, keeping in mind that the new cap ($2,100 in 2026, $2,400 in 2027) changes how expensive drugs are handled.
- If you're not sure how a surcharge would affect you, call 1-800-MEDICARE or contact North Carolina SHIIP, the state's free Medicare counseling program.
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 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
Q: I just retired in 2025. Will I owe IRMAA in 2027?
Q: Does switching Medicare Advantage plans lower my IRMAA?
Q: Do Roth conversions count toward IRMAA?
- CMS — Medicare costs & IRMAA (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.