Medicare Supplement

2026 IRMAA Brackets: Who Pays Medicare's Extra Charge?

BANGOR, Maine — As Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period runs through Dec. 7, higher-income retirees here in Penobscot County are getting a fresh look at something that catches many people off guard: the income-related monthly adjustment amount, or IRMAA. For 2026, the surcharge kicks in once a single filer's income tops $109,000, and it applies to both Part B and Part D premiums.

If you've never heard of IRMAA — or you got a letter from Social Security and weren't sure what it meant — this is the plain-English version.

What IRMAA actually is

IRMAA is not a separate bill or a penalty. It's an extra amount added to your standard Part B premium and your Part D premium when your income is above a set threshold. The Social Security Administration decides who owes it, using tax data from the IRS.

The key thing to know: IRMAA is based on your income from two years ago. Your 2026 surcharge is calculated from your 2024 tax return (specifically, your modified adjusted gross income, or MAGI).

The 2026 income thresholds

For 2026, IRMAA begins above these MAGI levels:

• Single filer: more than $109,000
• Married filing jointly: more than $218,000
• Married filing separately: a much lower threshold applies

Above those first thresholds, there are additional brackets that step up as income rises, all the way to a top tier for the highest earners. Both your Part B premium and your Part D premium get an add-on at each level. If you're on a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage, the Part D portion of IRMAA is still billed to you separately — usually taken out of your Social Security check.

For the exact bracket-by-bracket dollar amounts for 2026, check the "Costs" page at Medicare.gov, which is updated as CMS finalizes figures.

Why so many people in Bangor get surprised

A few common reasons:

• A one-time income spike. Selling a home, cashing out an investment, or taking a large IRA withdrawal in 2024 can push you over the line in 2026 — even if your regular retirement income is modest.
• Roth conversions. These count as income in the year you convert.
• Filing status change. Losing a spouse can move you from the joint threshold to the single one.
• Delayed paperwork. Some folks don't realize the surcharge exists until the letter arrives.

Bangor is in Penobscot County, where retirees have a range of stand-alone Part D and Medicare Advantage options to choose from during AEP — but IRMAA applies no matter which plan you pick. Switching plans does not lower the surcharge.

The mistake to avoid: skipping the appeal

If your income has dropped since 2024 because of a life-changing event, you can ask Social Security to reconsider. Qualifying events include:

• Marriage, divorce, or the death of a spouse
• You or your spouse stopped working or reduced hours
• Loss of pension income
• Loss of income-producing property (not from your own choice — think disaster or fraud)

You file Form SSA-44 with documentation. Many people who qualify never file it, simply because they didn't know they could. That's the costliest IRMAA mistake we see.

How IRMAA fits with the rest of 2026

A few other numbers worth keeping in mind this fall:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 — once you hit it, you pay nothing more for covered drugs the rest of the year.
• The Part D maximum deductible is $615.
• The old "donut hole" is gone; Part D now has three phases (deductible, initial coverage, catastrophic).
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the calendar year in monthly installments instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter. It doesn't lower what you owe — it just smooths the timing.

Key dates

• Annual Enrollment Period: Oct. 15 – Dec. 7 (changes take effect Jan. 1)
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: Jan. 1 – March 31 (for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan)