Medicare Part D
Medicare Part B and Part D IRMAA thresholds in Hillsboro
Hillsboro, Oregon — As Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period runs through Dec. 7, many Washington County residents are opening letters from Social Security that mention something called IRMAA. If your income is above a certain level, you may pay more for Medicare Part B and Part D in 2027 — and it helps to understand why before you pick a plan.
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
- IRMAA is an extra charge added to Part B and Part D premiums for people whose income is above certain thresholds, while most people on Medicare pay no such surcharge. CMS publishes the 2027 thresholds later this fall.
- Social Security bases IRMAA on income from two years earlier, so a high-income year in 2025 can raise your 2027 premiums even if your current income is lower.
- If you've had a life-changing event, you can file Form SSA-44 with documentation to ask Social Security to use more recent income instead.
- Medicare Advantage enrollees get another chance to switch plans or return to Original Medicare during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from Jan. 1 through March 31.
Here's a plain-language look at how income-related surcharges work, what the current thresholds are, and where to get help locally.
What IRMAA is, in plain English
IRMAA stands for the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount. It's an extra amount that higher-income Medicare beneficiaries pay on top of the standard Part B premium and, separately, on top of their Part D drug plan premium.
A few key points:
- IRMAA is set by the Social Security Administration, not by your plan.
- It's based on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) from your tax return two years ago. For 2027, that means your 2025 tax return.
- The extra amount is added to your monthly premium. For Part B, it's collected with your regular premium. For Part D, it's billed separately — even if your drug plan has a low premium on its own.
Most people on Medicare do not pay IRMAA. It only kicks in above the income thresholds below.
The income thresholds
For 2026, the first IRMAA tier begins at:
- More than $109,000 in MAGI for someone filing as single.
- More than $218,000 in MAGI for a married couple filing jointly.
Below those numbers, you pay the standard Part B premium and just your plan's Part D premium — no surcharge.
Above those numbers, there are several tiers. The higher your income, the higher your Part B and Part D surcharges climb. Married couples who file separately are treated under a different, tighter set of rules and can hit IRMAA at much lower incomes.
Because the exact tier amounts can change year to year, always confirm the current figures on Medicare.gov under "Costs" before making decisions.
Why your 2025 taxes matter for 2027
This is the part that trips people up in Hillsboro every fall: Social Security looks back two years. So if you had a strong income year in 2025 — maybe you sold a home near Orenco Station, took a large IRA withdrawal, or cashed out Intel stock — that can push you into an IRMAA tier for 2027, even if your income is much lower now.
The good news: if you've had a life-changing event, you can ask Social Security to use more recent income. Qualifying events include:
- Retirement or reduced work hours
- Marriage, divorce, or the death of a spouse
- Loss of pension income
- Loss of income-producing property (not from a sale)
You'd file Form SSA-44 with documentation. This is one of the most useful — and most overlooked — tools available to newly retired folks.
How IRMAA fits with the rest of your Medicare costs
IRMAA is only one piece of your Medicare costs. A few other facts worth knowing:
- Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once your covered drug costs hit that amount, you pay nothing for covered drugs the rest of the year.
- Part D maximum deductible: $615 for 2026 and $700 for 2027 (individual plans may set a lower one).
- Coverage gap ("donut hole"): Gone. Since 2025, Part D has three phases instead of four.
- Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: You can choose to spread your drug costs into smaller monthly payments across the year instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter.
Hillsboro is in Washington County, where a range of Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D plans are available. Plan availability, premiums, and formularies are set at the county level — so what a neighbor in Beaverton or Forest Grove sees may look different from your options. The 2027 lineup appears in each plan's ANOC and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder.
What to do during Annual Enrollment
Between now and Dec. 7, you can:
- Compare your current plan to other plans available in Washington County for 2027.
- Check whether your prescriptions are still on the formulary at a similar cost.
- Confirm your doctors and preferred pharmacies (Providence, Kaiser, OHSU, local independents) are in-network for any plan you're considering.
Then, from Jan. 1 through March 31, people already on a Medicare Advantage plan get one more chance — the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period — to switch to a different Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare.
IRMAA itself is not something you choose during enrollment; it's calculated automatically from your tax data. But knowing whether you'll owe it helps you budget realistically for the year.
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 Washington County
(MA penetration in Washington 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
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 2026 surcharge is based on your 2024 tax return.
| 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 got a letter saying I'll pay more for Medicare in 2027. Is this a scam?
Q: I retired this year and my income is way lower now. Do I really have to pay based on an older tax year?
Q: Does IRMAA apply if I only have Part A?
- CMS — Medicare costs & IRMAA (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.