01/28/2026
If you are on Medicare, do you know IRMAA?
It’s a surcharge added to your Medicare premiums if your income is above certain levels.
IRMAA = Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount
It affects:
Medicare Part B (medical insurance)
Medicare Part D (prescription drug plans)
So instead of paying just the standard premium, higher-income beneficiaries pay extra on top of it.
How IRMAA works
Medicare looks at your income from two years ago (from your IRS tax return) and decides if a surcharge applies.
For example:
Your 2026 Medicare premiums are based on your 2024 income.
If you have a life changing event, you can appeal your IRMAA payments by completing form SSA-44 located on the Social Security Administration site at https://www.ssa.gov/forms/