Medicare Part D
2026 IRMAA Brackets: What Wauwatosa Retirees Owe Above $109K
WAUWATOSA, Wis. — If you're on Medicare and your income has climbed in recent years, a letter from Social Security may be waiting for you this winter. It's called an IRMAA notice, and for 2026 it kicks in once a single filer's income tops $109,000 — or $218,000 for a married couple filing jointly. Here's what that surcharge is, who pays it, and how Wauwatosa retirees can plan ahead before the numbers on next year's Medicare bill catch them off guard.
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 855-729-3240Key takeaways
- IRMAA is an income-related surcharge added to Part B and Part D premiums, and for 2026 it starts above $109,000 (single) or $218,000 (joint).
- Social Security uses your 2025 tax return to set your 2027 surcharge, so the income that counts is already on record.
- If your income dropped because of a life event like retirement or a spouse's death, you can ask Social Security to reconsider using Form SSA-44.
- The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, and it's a good time to review your Part D coverage even if IRMAA itself isn't something you can shop away.
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, separately, on top of whatever Part D drug plan premium you pay. It is not a penalty for signing up late — that's a different rule. IRMAA is simply the government asking higher-income beneficiaries to pay a bigger share of their Medicare costs.
Most people on Medicare do not pay IRMAA. According to CMS, the surcharge only applies to a minority of beneficiaries whose modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) crosses set thresholds.
The 2027 income thresholds
For 2026, the first IRMAA tier begins when your MAGI on your 2024 tax return was more than:
- $109,000 for a single filer, head of household, or qualifying surviving spouse.
- $218,000 for a married couple filing jointly.
- Above $109,000 in most cases for married-filing-separately filers who lived with a spouse during the year — this group hits IRMAA at a lower threshold, so check the CMS chart carefully.
From that first tier, the surcharge climbs through several higher brackets. The very top bracket applies to single filers with income at or above $500,000 and joint filers at or above $750,000. The exact dollar amount added to Part B and Part D at each tier is published every fall by CMS at medicare.gov.
Why 2025 income matters for a 2027 bill
This is the part that surprises Wauwatosa readers most often: Medicare uses a two-year lookback. Your 2027 Part B and Part D premiums will be based on the tax return you filed in 2026 for tax year 2025. If you sold a house, took a large IRA distribution, or converted funds to a Roth in 2025, that spike can push you into an IRMAA tier for 2027 — even if your income has since returned to normal.
The good news: IRMAA is recalculated every year. A one-year income bump generally only affects one year of premiums.
If your income has dropped, you can appeal
Social Security allows you to request a new IRMAA determination if you've had a qualifying "life-changing event." These include:
- Marriage, divorce, or the death of a spouse.
- You or your spouse stopping work or reducing hours.
- Loss of income-producing property through no fault of your own.
- Loss or reduction of a pension.
- A settlement from a former employer due to closure or bankruptcy.
The form to file is SSA-44, available at ssa.gov. You'll need documentation of the event and an estimate of your new income. Wauwatosa residents can also bring the form to the Social Security office on West Mitchell Street in Milwaukee, or handle it by mail.
A local snapshot
Wauwatosa is in Milwaukee County, where beneficiaries have a wide range of Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D options to compare during the Annual Enrollment Period. IRMAA follows you regardless of which plan you choose — it's tied to your income, not your plan — but AEP is still the right window to review whether your current drug coverage still fits your prescriptions and pharmacy.
Wisconsin also runs a free counseling program called the Medigap Helpline and the Wisconsin SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program), staffed by trained counselors who do not sell insurance. They can walk you through an IRMAA letter line by line.
Key dates to remember
- October 15 – December 7, 2026: Medicare Annual Enrollment Period. Review Part D or Medicare Advantage coverage for 2027.
- January 1 – March 31: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, for those already in an Advantage plan who want to switch or return to Original Medicare.
- Late fall 2026: IRMAA determination letters from Social Security typically arrive, telling you what your 2027 premiums will be.
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 Milwaukee County
(MA penetration in Milwaukee 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
2027 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 will be based on your 2025 tax return. CMS publishes the 2027 brackets and dollar amounts later this fall; the 2026 figures below remain in effect 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?
Can I avoid IRMAA by switching Medicare plans?
What if I disagree with my IRMAA letter?
Where can I get personalized help in Wauwatosa?
- CMS — Medicare costs & IRMAA (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.
Also for Wauwatosa
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 7, 2026.