Medicare Part D

IRMAA for 2027: the income thresholds that add to Part B and Part D in Havelock

In Havelock, most people on Medicare pay the standard Part B premium and whatever their Part D plan charges. But if your income crossed a certain line two years ago, Social Security will add a monthly surcharge — a rule called the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, or IRMAA. With the fall Annual Enrollment Period running Oct. 15 through Dec. 7 for 2027 coverage, it's a good time to understand how the brackets work and how the extra charge gets applied.

What IRMAA is, in plain English

IRMAA is not a separate bill. It's an extra amount added on top of your regular Part B premium (which covers doctor visits and outpatient care) and your Part D premium (which covers prescription drugs). Everyone with Medicare pays the standard Part B premium; a smaller group with higher incomes pays that standard premium plus an IRMAA surcharge.

Social Security — not Medicare — decides who owes IRMAA and how much. If you're affected, you'll get a letter explaining the amount and how to appeal.

The income brackets for 2027

IRMAA uses your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) from two years earlier. So your 2027 surcharge is based on the tax return you filed for 2025.

For 2026, the surcharge starts above these income levels:

• Single filer: more than $109,000
• Married filing jointly: more than $218,000
• Married filing separately (and lived with your spouse): a much lower threshold applies, and the surcharge climbs quickly

Above those first thresholds, there are additional tiers. The higher your income, the larger the monthly add-on. The top tier applies to single filers with income of roughly $500,000 or more and joint filers at roughly $750,000 or more. Exact dollar amounts for each tier are posted every fall on Medicare.gov.

How the surcharge is collected

If you already get Social Security benefits, the Part B surcharge is taken out of your monthly check along with the standard premium. The Part D surcharge is billed separately by Medicare, even if your drug plan premium is normally paid to a private insurer. That surprises some people — they assume their plan handles everything — so watch for a bill from Medicare if you cross a bracket.

Havelock is in Craven County, where retirees can get free, unbiased help sorting through this from the North Carolina SHIIP program (the state's SHIP counselor network).

What to do if your income has dropped

The IRMAA rules include a life-changing event exception. If a major event has reduced your income since the tax year Social Security is using, you can ask for a new decision. Qualifying events include:

• Retirement or reduced work hours
• Marriage, divorce, or the death of a spouse
• Loss of a pension
• Loss of income-producing property through a disaster or other event outside your control

To request the review, complete Form SSA-44 and submit it to Social Security with documentation. If approved, they'll use your more recent income instead.

Why this matters during Open Enrollment

IRMAA doesn't change which Part D or Medicare Advantage plans you can pick — everyone in Craven County has access to the same lineup regardless of income. But if you know a surcharge is coming, it changes the math when you compare drug plans. A plan with a lower premium may be worth a second look when the government is adding to that premium every month.

Some other numbers worth knowing as you compare plans:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026.
• The Part D maximum deductible is $615 in 2026 ($700 in 2027).
• The old coverage gap (the "donut hole") has been eliminated as of 2025; Part D now has three phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the year in monthly installments instead of paying at the pharmacy counter.