Higher retirement income raises your Medicare premiums. See which bracket you land in and the monthly surcharge.
How this is calculated Embed on your siteUpdated October 2026 · 2026 Medicare figures
IRMAA, the income-related monthly adjustment amount, is an extra charge added to Medicare Part B and Part D premiums for people with higher incomes. It is set by income bands, and crossing a band by even one dollar moves you into the next one. This calculator shows which band your income falls in, what it adds each year, and how close you are to the next threshold. With the defaults, a single filer with $150,000 of income pays an extra $240.40 a month, or $2,885 a year.
The standard Part B premium for 2026 is $202.90 a month. Here is what each band adds, per person:
| Income, single | Income, married filing jointly | Part B premium | Part D surcharge | Extra cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $109,000 or less | $218,000 or less | $202.90 | $0 | $0 |
| $109,001 to $137,000 | $218,001 to $274,000 | $284.10 | $14.50 | $1,148 |
| $137,001 to $171,000 | $274,001 to $342,000 | $405.80 | $37.50 | $2,885 |
| $171,001 to $205,000 | $342,001 to $410,000 | $527.50 | $60.40 | $4,620 |
| $205,001 to $499,999 | $410,001 to $749,999 | $649.20 | $83.30 | $6,355 |
| $500,000 or more | $750,000 or more | $689.90 | $91.00 | $6,936 |
A married couple who are both on Medicare each pay the surcharge, so a couple in the second band pays $5,770 a year extra.
IRMAA uses your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI): your adjusted gross income plus any tax-exempt interest. It looks back two years, so your 2026 premiums are based on your 2024 tax return. That lag is why IRMAA often surprises people: a big income year at 63 or 64 can raise premiums at 65 or 66.
IRMAA is not phased in. At $109,000 of single income you pay nothing extra; at $109,001 you pay $1,148 more for the year. That makes the thresholds worth planning around. Common things that push income over a line:
For single filers the surcharges start above $109,000 of MAGI, with further steps above $137,000, $171,000, $205,000 and $500,000. For married couples filing jointly they start above $218,000, with steps above $274,000, $342,000, $410,000 and $750,000.
Your 2024 tax return. Medicare looks back two years to the most recent return the IRS has on file.
The standard premium is $202.90 a month. Higher-income beneficiaries pay between $284.10 and $689.90 a month for Part B, plus a Part D surcharge of $14.50 to $91.00.
Yes, if your income has dropped because of a life-changing event such as retirement, reduced work, marriage, divorce or the death of a spouse. File Form SSA-44 with Social Security.
Yes. Each spouse enrolled in Medicare pays the surcharge, based on the couple's joint income.
Sources: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2026 Medicare Parts B and D premiums; Social Security Administration POMS HI 01101.020 (IRMAA sliding scale tables). Not tax advice.