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Will I pay a Medicare surcharge, and can I appeal it?
See whether your income puts you in a Medicare IRMAA tier for 2026, what the surcharge costs per person, how close you are to the next tier, and whether a Form SSA-44 appeal could lower it.
Yearfold is a financial-education tool. It is not a registered investment adviser and does not provide personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Results are probabilistic projections based on historical data and stated assumptions; they are not guarantees. Methodology
By Mindaugas Laucius · Last reviewed October 21, 2026
Your 2026 IRMAA tier
Tier 2 of 5
$240.40 a month per person
Surcharge per year
$2,884.80
Part B +$202.90, Part D +$37.50 a month
- Total monthly premium per person (standard Part B and base Part D plus surcharge): $482.29.
- $13,000 less income would have put you one tier lower.
- $21,001 more income would move you up a tier.
2026 amounts from CMS. CMS publishes 2027 premiums and tiers in the fall; this tool will be updated then.
How this works
IRMAA (the income-related monthly adjustment amount) is an extra charge on Medicare Part B and Part D for people with higher incomes. Social Security sets it from your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) two years earlier, so 2026 premiums depend on your 2024 tax return. MAGI here is adjusted gross income plus tax-exempt interest.
There are five surcharge tiers. In 2026 the first starts at $109,001 of MAGI for a single filer and $218,001 for a joint return, and each tier is a cliff: one dollar over the line triggers the whole surcharge for the year. A married couple both on Medicare each pays it, so the household cost doubles.
Because the income is two years old, it often reflects a paycheck you no longer have. If a qualifying life-changing event lowered your income, SSA will reconsider using a more recent year when you file Form SSA-44. The tool estimates what that could save if the appeal is approved.
Worked example: Single filer with $150,000 of MAGI on the 2024 return
- $150,000 falls in tier 2 for a single filer ($137,001 to $171,000).
- Tier-2 surcharges in 2026: Part B +$202.90 and Part D +$37.50 a month, so $240.40 a month.
- Over a year: $240.40 × 12 = $2,884.80 on top of the standard premiums.
- Distance to the tiers: $13,000 less income would have meant tier 1; another $21,001 would have meant tier 3.
This person pays $2,884.80 a year in IRMAA. If they retired in 2025 and expect $90,000 of MAGI in 2026, a work-stoppage appeal on Form SSA-44 could remove the full $2,884.80.
The full method behind every Yearfold number is on the methodology page.
Sources
- CMS — 2026 Medicare Part B premiums and deductibles
- SSA — Form SSA-44 (life-changing event)
- SSA POMS HI 01101.020 — IRMAA rules
Rules verified against these sources on October 21, 2026.
Questions
Which income year does Medicare use for 2026?
Your 2024 tax return, two years back. If that return isn't available when SSA sets your premium, it uses the 2023 return and adjusts once the 2024 figures arrive.
Which life events qualify for an SSA-44 appeal?
Marriage; divorce or annulment; death of a spouse; work stoppage; work reduction; loss of income-producing property through no fault of your own; loss of pension income; and an employer settlement payment. A large one-time capital gain or Roth conversion is not on the list.
Will the brackets change for 2027?
Yes. CMS usually announces the next year's Part B premium and IRMAA amounts in the fall. We review this tool when the 2027 figures are published and show the review date on this page.
How can I stay under a tier in future years?
Because each tier is a cliff, timing matters: spreading Roth conversions over several years, using qualified charitable distributions from an IRA after 70½, and choosing which accounts fund spending all change MAGI. The Roth conversion headroom tool shows how much room is left before the next tier.
See this in your full plan
The free 10,000-path calculator puts this answer next to everything else: savings, spending, Social Security, taxes, Medicare and a spouse, with the odds your money lasts. Your inputs from this tool carry over.
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