Costs
IRMAA: higher Medicare premiums for higher incomes (2026 brackets)
Who pays more for Part B and Part D in 2026, the income brackets, and how to ask for a lower amount after retiring.
Checked against official sources on October 27, 2026 · How we check facts
If your income is above a certain level, you pay an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) on top of your Part B premium and your Part D premium. Social Security decides it using your modified adjusted gross income from your tax return two years earlier: for 2026, that's your 2024 return.
2026 premiums by income
| Individual return | Joint return | Part B monthly | Part D add-on |
|---|---|---|---|
| $109,000 or less | $218,000 or less | $202.90 | $0 |
| Over $109,000 to $137,000 | Over $218,000 to $274,000 | $284.10 | $14.50 |
| Over $137,000 to $171,000 | Over $274,000 to $342,000 | $405.80 | $37.50 |
| Over $171,000 to $205,000 | Over $342,000 to $410,000 | $527.50 | $60.40 |
| Over $205,000, under $500,000 | Over $410,000, under $750,000 | $649.20 | $83.30 |
| $500,000 or more | $750,000 or more | $689.90 | $91.00 |
The Part D add-on is paid to Medicare on top of whatever your drug plan charges. Married people who file separately and lived with their spouse during the year have their own brackets (above $109,000 and under $391,000, or $391,000 and up).
Retired since then? Ask for a new decision
Because IRMAA looks back two years, it often hits people the first year or two after they stop working. If your income dropped because of a life-changing event (stopping or reducing work, marriage, divorce, death of a spouse, loss of a pension, and a few others), you can ask Social Security to use your newer income with form SSA-44.
Common questions
What income triggers IRMAA in 2026?
Modified adjusted gross income above $109,000 on an individual tax return or above $218,000 on a joint return, based on your 2024 taxes.
How much is the highest Part B premium in 2026?
$689.90 a month, for incomes of $500,000 or more on an individual return or $750,000 or more on a joint return.
Can I lower my IRMAA after I retire?
Yes, if your income dropped because of a life-changing event such as stopping work. Ask Social Security for a new decision using form SSA-44.
Sources
- CMS: 2026 Medicare Parts A and B premiums and deductibles
- Social Security: premiums for higher-income beneficiaries
General information, not advice about a specific plan.