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Why Did My Medicare Premium Go Up? Part B, IRMAA and Plan Changes
Why your Part B or plan premium changed, and what you can do. Call or text 813-302-7151.
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Start by finding out which charge increased. Your Part B premium, an income-related adjustment, a drug-plan premium and a Medicare Advantage premium are separate items. Changing plans will not necessarily change a federal charge.
Bring the notice showing the old and new amount. We can help separate a plan decision from an issue that Social Security needs to review.
The 2026 Part B premium and deductible
For 2026, the standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month and the Part B deductible is $283 a year. Medicare sets these amounts every year, and CMS usually announces the next year’s figures in the fall. The 2027 amounts have not been published yet; we update this page when the new figures are published.
Most people pay Part B through a deduction from their Social Security check or with a Medicare bill. It is separate from any premium your Advantage plan charges. Your own bill can also include a late enrollment penalty, an income-related amount (IRMAA) or the loss of state help that used to pay it.
IRMAA: the extra amount for higher incomes
IRMAA (income-related monthly adjustment amount) is an extra charge that people with higher incomes pay on top of the Part B premium and on top of their Part D plan premium. For 2026, Social Security uses the tax return you filed in 2025 for tax year 2024. So a one-time jump in 2024 income, such as a large capital gain, a home sale or a big IRA withdrawal, can raise your 2026 premium. Switching insurance companies does not change IRMAA.
| 2024 income, individual tax return | 2024 income, joint tax return | 2026 Part B premium each month | 2026 Part D add-on each month |
|---|---|---|---|
| $109,000 or less | $218,000 or less | $202.90 | $0.00 |
| Above $109,000 up to $137,000 | Above $218,000 up to $274,000 | $284.10 | $14.50 |
| Above $137,000 up to $171,000 | Above $274,000 up to $342,000 | $405.80 | $37.50 |
| Above $171,000 up to $205,000 | Above $342,000 up to $410,000 | $527.50 | $60.40 |
| Above $205,000 and less than $500,000 | Above $410,000 and less than $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 on top of your drug plan’s own premium. If you are married, filed separately and lived with your spouse during the year, the brackets are different: $109,000 or less pays $202.90; above $109,000 and less than $391,000 pays $649.20 (plus $83.30 for Part D); $391,000 or more pays $689.90 (plus $91.00 for Part D).
Sources: CMS 2026 Medicare Parts A and B fact sheet and Social Security: Medicare premiums.
How to ask for a lower IRMAA after a life-changing event
If your income has gone down since the tax year Social Security used, you can ask it to use newer income. Social Security lists these life-changing events: marriage, divorce, the death of a spouse, loss of income, and an employer settlement payment.
The request is made on form SSA-44 (Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, Life-Changing Event). You can submit it online, mail or fax it to your local Social Security office with your evidence, or bring it to an appointment. If you filed an amended tax return, Social Security asks you to call 1-800-772-1213 instead. The steps are on Social Security: request a lower IRMAA.
If you think the decision itself is wrong, follow the appeal steps and deadlines in your IRMAA notice. Social Security decides these requests; we can help you understand the notice and get your papers in order.
Why your Part D or Medicare Advantage premium changed
Insurance companies can change plan premiums and benefits from one year to the next. Read your Annual Notice of Change and compare your total yearly cost, including your medicines, before you replace a plan because of its premium alone. Keep the plan’s premium separate from the Part D IRMAA add-on, which is a federal charge. Also check whether an employer contribution or other help with the premium has ended.
Medicare Savings Programs can pay your Part B premium
Florida runs Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB and QI) for people with limited income and resources. These programs can pay the Part B premium, and QMB also helps with Medicare deductibles and copays. For 2026, the highest income limit, for QI, is $1,816 a month for one person or $2,455 for a couple, with resources up to $9,950 or $14,910 (Social Security program manual: 2026 Medicare Savings Program limits). QMB and SLMB have lower income limits, and the state decides who qualifies. Extra Help is a separate program for Part D costs. Our Extra Help and Medicare Savings Programs guide has the full table.
Review your plan every fall
A fall review shows which costs you can change by choosing a different plan and which ones need a decision from Social Security or a help program. Bring your premium notice, your current plan, your medication list and any change in work or household income. Contact Covered by Guzman to review the plans and help programs available to you. A plan switch will not fix every increase, and we will tell you when it will not.
Official resources: Medicare.gov: Medicare costs; Medicare.gov: Medicare Savings Programs.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. For information on all of your options, please contact Medicare.gov, call 1-800-MEDICARE, or contact your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).
Frequently Asked Questions
What triggers a higher Medicare premium?
Usually one of five things: the yearly Part B change, an income-related amount (IRMAA), a late enrollment penalty, losing help from a Medicare Savings Program, or your plan raising its own premium. The notice you received tells you which one.
At what income level does my Medicare premium go up?
For 2026, IRMAA starts when your 2024 income was above $109,000 on an individual tax return or above $218,000 on a joint return. Above those amounts, the Part B premium rises in steps from $284.10 to $689.90 a month; the table above shows every bracket.
Do Medicare premiums increase with age?
No. The standard Part B premium does not go up because you have a birthday. It changes each year for everyone, and income, penalties and plan changes can also change what you pay.
How do I appeal IRMAA?
If a life-changing event lowered your income, send form SSA-44 to Social Security with evidence of the event and your income. If you think the income Social Security used is wrong, follow the appeal steps in your notice, and call 1-800-772-1213 if you filed an amended tax return.
Is the 2027 Part B premium announced yet?
Not yet. As of September 27, 2026, the 2027 Part B premium and deductible have not been published; CMS usually announces them in the fall. Until then, the 2026 figures apply: $202.90 a month and a $283 deductible.
Can I get help paying my Part B premium?
Yes, if you qualify for a Medicare Savings Program. QMB, SLMB and QI can pay the Part B premium; for 2026 the highest income limit, for QI, is $1,816 a month for one person. We can help you with the application.
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or medical advice. Your plan documents, including the Summary of Benefits and Evidence of Coverage, control what is covered and what you pay.
About the Author
Raymundo Guzman
I am Raymundo Guzman, a licensed independent insurance agent and the owner of Covered by Guzman. On the health side, I help Florida individuals, families and small businesses compare ACA Marketplace plans, Medicare Advantage and Part D, and dental and vision coverage, checking doctors and medications before anything is submitted. I work in English and Spanish, and a member of our team speaks Arabic. We usually meet by phone or video, and I stay available after enrollment.
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